Notts County 0 Barrow AFC 3

Barrow AFC put together their best performance of the lot in their magnificent run of form, as they played Notts County off the park on their own patch to pick up another significant scalp.

In what was their first visit to Meadow Lane for 49 years, the Bluebirds controlled the contest almost from start to finish to record their tenth win in 11 National League games.

With Bromley and Halifax both being held, these latest three points put Ian Evatt’s side top of the table, ahead of Yeovil’s late kick-off against Dover.

It’s a marker of where AFC are at now that this victory felt almost routine and it’s amazing to think that the margin of victory at a club of the Magpies’ size could have been greater.

In the end, goals from Dior Angus, John Rooney and Jack Hindle gave us a scoreline that wasn’t in the least bit flattering and left the 471 away fans in attendance dreaming of how far this team could go.

Midfielder Tom White was given his debut, one day after completing his loan move from Blackburn, while defender Brad Barry and striker Angus returned from injury, as three changes were made from the team that beat Sutton two weeks ago.

Barrow survived an early scare as Damien McCrory’s long ball put Wes Thomas in behind and Joel Dixon did just enough to hold him up before Patrick Brough blocked the forward’s shot.

The Bluebirds then went ahead with the first real chance after ten minutes and it was a superbly-crafted goal.

Brough slid a superb ball down the left wing for Josh Kay, who had the pace to reach it before sending in a low cross that was steered in first time by Angus, who has now scored in his last five league games.

If that was a dream start, the Bluebirds fans must have felt they were in Fantasy Land, as they witnessed their team double their lead three minutes later.

An awful back pass was seized upon by Angus, who beat Magpies goalkeeper Sam Slocombe to the ball and advanced into the area before calmly laying the ball off for Rooney to beat the defender on the line.

Rooney almost added a third for AFC in the 18th minute when his free kick from out on the left was pushed over the bar by Slocombe.

With the home crowd getting on their backs, Notts County were finding it difficult to get themselves back in the game, as Barrow’s reshuffled back three was standing firm.

The hosts should have pulled one back, however, when Ben Turner, unmarked, headed Regan Booty’s corner across goal and Thomas somehow miscued the ball from close range.

Notts County began the second half on the front foot and threatened when Thomas was found in space, but he dragged his shot across goal and wide.

The Bluebirds began to mount some attacks again themselves, with Kay sending an effort off target from 25 yards before Rooney did likewise with another long-range strike on the hour mark.

They almost killed the game off in the 62nd minute when Angus slid through a lovely pass for Scott Quigley, whose shot was kept out by Slocombe’s legs.

Angus then wasted a dangerous counter attack, started by Quigley, when he ignored Rooney on his outside and shot tamely at Slocombe.

Dixon then had a slightly awkward moment as he caught underneath Booty’s free kick from the right, but thankfully for him the ball drifted wide of the back post.

Angus then had another chance to finish the game off when he was put through on goal by a fantastic pass by Rooney, but Slocombe stood up strong to take the sting out of his shot.

But the third goal AFC so deserved finally arrived with three minutes left and again it was a superb move, as Olly Dyson played in the overlapping Barry, whose cross was turned in by Hindle at the near post.

Notts County (4-4-2): Slocombe, Brindley, Turner, Rawlinson, McCrory, Boldewijn (Shields 70), Doyle, Rose, Booty, Thomas (Dennis 70), Wootton.

Subs not used: Tyson, Kelly-Evans, Bakayogo.

Barrow AFC (3-4-1-2): Dixon, Brown, Platt, Brough, Barry, Rooney, White (Dyson 72), Kay, Hardcastle, Angus (Harrison 76), Quigley (Hindle 83).

Subs not used: Waddington, Penfold.

Referee: Daniel Middleton

Attendance: 5,287 (471 away)

Bluebirds star man: Lewis Hardcastle