Notts County 0

Barrow AFC 3

Simply stunning. There's surely no way Barrow AFC can fly under the radar now after they dismantled arguably the biggest club in the National League on their own turf.

Not least because it's difficult to go about your business quietly when you've just risen to the top of English football's fifth tier for the first time ever at this stage of a season.

In what is their first-ever campaign outside the Football League in their 157-year history, Notts County are the big fish in this league and they know it.

Despite the Bluebirds' brilliant recent form, the majority inside Meadow Lane were expecting another three points against a team their supporters knew little about, in what was meant to be the latest step in them just passing through a lower league.

However, like most other 'big names' to have dropped out of the EFL in the last decade or so, they are finding out what of a dog of a division they are in.

That's because not only are there plenty of clubs like themselves trying to get back into where they feel they belong, but there are also ambitious clubs on the rise scrapping for the same prize. There is no question that Barrow AFC are amongst the latter. Make no mistake, the Bluebirds are promotion contenders this season.

Ian Evatt played under a manager at Blackpool in Ian Holloway who got his players believing there was no limit to what they could achieve and it took them to heights no-one outside that club believed they were capable of.

In 17 months, he's instilled that same level of belief in this squad.

The transformation in the current campaign has been remarkable. If you'd have told someone after the defeat at home to Hartlepool at the start of September - their sixth loss in nine games - that Barrow would be top of the table two-and-a-half months later, you'd have been met with calls with 'nurse, he's escaped again!'

In that time, though, they have been the best team in the National League and they produced possibly their best performance yet against the Magpies. They stunned the hosts by going 2-0 up inside13 minutes, the first goal seeing Dior Angus finish off a superb move down the left involving Patrick Brough and Josh Kay.

The Bluebirds were forcing Notts into mistakes and this led to their second, as Angus seized on an awful back pass by Enzio Boldewijn before having the composure to round the goalkeeper, make his way into the area and set up John Rooney for a tap-in.

Almost everything about AFC was spot on in this game. They defended resolutely, they were a constant threat in the opposition half, they worked tirelessly off the ball and there was plenty of quality in possession.

The only complaint - if you can call it that - is that they didn't make absolutely sure of the result sooner, with Scott Quigley and Angus drawing good saves and several other clear chances being passed up.

However, they did give the score a more realistic look when another lovely move, instigated by Olly Dyson, led to Jack Hindle firing in Brad Barry's cross. A fitting end to a fantastic day.

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