Eastleigh 0 Barrow AFC 1

They may not be challenging in the upper echelons themselves, but Barrow AFC continue to have a huge influence over the goings on near the top of the National League after they deserved saw off Eastleigh.

Jack Hindle’s well-taken first-half goal proved to be the difference at the Silverlake Stadium, as the Bluebirds made light of a lengthening injury list to get the best of one of the in-form teams in the division.

The Spitfires had won seven of their last eight games, but they were hardly a kick by AFC, who had nine first-team players missing in this game, following an early injury for Jacob Blyth.

Yet again, they have bloodied the nose of a team in the top six of the table and what’s more, it’s three straight league wins for just the second time this season, which they are threatening a strong end to.

With so many players out, the team practically picked itself, with Hindle coming in for Dior Angus up front the only change from the team that started Tuesday’s superb win at Wrexham.

Striker Nathan Reid, who only signed first-team forms on Friday, was named on the bench, as was teenager Tom Dawson.

It took just ten minutes for the injury jinx to strike again for Barrow, as Blyth was forced off with what looked like a muscle strain, giving Reid a debut much earlier than he would’ve expected.

That blow aside, it had been an assured start from the Bluebirds, who dominated possession without creating a clear goalscoring opportunity in the early stages.

The first real shot in anger came in the 17th minute, when Lewis Hardcastle teed the ball up for Dan Jones, who sent his first-time strike from long range whistling over the bar.

A better chance than that was quickly forged when Rhys Norrington-Davies cut the ball back for John Rooney, who was very annoyed with himself for side-footing over from a great position.

But AFC had the goal their performance deserved after 28 minutes when Josh Kay smacked a long ball forward to get Hindle in behind and he coolly rounded goalkeeper Luke Southwood and rolled into the empty net.

For a team in such good form, it was remarkable to see Eastleigh offer so little during the first half and Chris Zebroski shooting wildly over from a narrow angle gave an indication of their frustration.

But the Spitfires were improved in the early stages of the second half, with the prolific Paul McCallum thankfully heading weakly at Joel Dixon after struggling to bring the ball down.

In contrast, Barrow had emerged from the changing room looking a little loose for the first time in the game, with the earlier accuracy in their passing lacking, regardless of the windy conditions.

Dixon still wasn’t being tested, however, with Mark Yeates scuffing well wide from just outside the area, as the hosts tried to force their way level.

The Bluebirds managed to get back into their stride beyond the hour mark, with Hindle, admittedly offside, coming close to connecting with a tremendous low cross from Kay.

A superb ball from Kyle Jameson down the right then sent Kay in behind, only to be forced a little too wide by the onrushing Southwood and his eventual cross was cut out.

Eastleigh emptied their bench, but they were being kept at arm’s length by the Bluebirds, with captain Jason Taylor again filling in admirably as part of the back three.

They should have had a second late on when Hardcastle put Hindle clean through again, only for him to overrun the ball this time and allow Southwood to nick the ball off him.

Hearts were hearts in mouths in the first minute of stoppage time when Ben Williamson’s low cross from the right was sliced over his own bar by Jones, but this was the only real alarm on an afternoon when the depleted Bluebirds stood tall.

Eastleigh (3-4-3): Southwood, Boyce, Johnson, Wynter (Miley 81), Hare, Hollands (McKnight 81), Gobern, Green, Zebroski (Williamson 60), McCallum, Yeates

Subs not used: Hobson, Dennett

Barrow AFC (3-1-4-2): Dixon, Jameson, Taylor, Jones, Jennings, Kay, Rooney, Hardcastle, Norrington-Davies, Blyth (Reid 11), Hindle (Elsdon 90+2)

Subs not used: Saltmer, Molyneux, Dawson

Referee: Joe Hull

Attendance: 1,738