Barrow AFC 1 Aldershot Town 0

Dior Angus' goal proved decisive as Barrow AFC’s magnificent run at the top of the National League continued with a narrow victory at home to Aldershot Town.

The margin of victory may not have been much, but how there was only goal during a classically windy afternoon at Holker Street is anyone’s guess.

Rather like their previous two games, against Barnet and Chorley, the Bluebirds were guilty of letting clear-cut chances slip away, but if Aldershot had made them pay, ‘smash and grab’ wouldn’t have covered it.

While they didn’t hit the heights like they did at Maidenhead last week, this was still another match they controlled for the most part.

At half-time, they were going six points clear at the top, but Bromley’s comeback win at Chesterfield means the gap remains at three going into the hiatus from league action, due to the FA Trophy.

Barrow’s starting line-up was unchanged from the one that thrashed Maidenhead, with the only change to the squad being Oliver Greaves coming on the bench for Jason Taylor.

John Rooney had the first shot in anger for the Bluebirds after five minutes when his ambitious free kick from 30 yards out rose over the bar.

Lewis Hardcastle was the next to try his luck from distance when a poor clearance ran straight to him, but Aldershot goalkeeper Mitch Walker was right behind his effort.

A few hearts were in mouths when Matt Platt appeared to bundle over AFC old boy Harry Panayiotou in the penalty area, but referee Joe Johnson wasn’t interested.

Walker then turned another free kick by Rooney from the left of the area over the bar, before he was forced into doing the same with another set-piece from the midfielder from a more central position.

The Bluebirds had his goal, however, after 22 minutes when Hardcastle rolled a free kick back into Rooney's path and his shot took a deflection off Angus through the crowd and nestled in the bottom corner.

The hosts continued to make most of the running, with Scott Quigley turning well on the edge of the area before his effort was grabbed by Walker at his near post.

The rest of the first half did peter out, somewhat, but with the Shots not really threatening, the Bluebirds retained their lead into the break.

They began the second half on the front foot as well, with Rooney chipping forward a lovely ball for Josh Kay, who was unlucky to see his volley fly over the bar.

Aldershot then had their best spell of pressure, forcing four corners in quick succession, with the last of those from Jack Powell leading to Max Hunt thumping a header just wide.

AFC continued to press for that second goal, but they were almost pegged back when Lewis Walker went through on goal and tried to round Joel Dixon, who stood strong to claw the ball away from him.

He was then hooked as Shamir Mullings came on in his place, with the visitors now showing more ambition having kept themselves in contention.

Barrow should have given themselves breathing room after 66 minutes, though, when Quigley played the ball across goal only for Kay to spoon his effort from inside the six-yard box well over.

The Bluebirds just couldn’t put the game to bed, as sub Olly Dyson put Dior Angus clean through on goal, but Walker rushed out to make a good block.

Less than a minute later, Quigley battled to get on the end of Rooney’s ball over the top, sat down Walker but gave Alex Finney enough time to get back and block his shot.

There were two more chances spurned in stoppage time, as Walker claimed the ball off Jack Hindle as he tried to go around him.

Rooney then ignored Hindle, who was in acres of space, as his effort was pushed away by the Shots stopper, as a fairly one-sided one-goal game ended with yet another three points for Barrow.

Barrow AFC (3-4-1-2): Dixon, Hird, Platt, Brough, Barry, Rooney, White, Kay, Hardcastle (Dyson 76), Angus (Hindle 82), Quigley (Harrison 87).

Subs not used: Brown, Greaves.

Aldershot Town (5-3-2): M Walker, Tinkler, Finney, Anderson, Hunt (Santos 72), Kinsella, Powell, Rance, Whittingham, L Walker (Mullings 63), Panayiotou (Eyoma 84).

Subs not used: Lyons-Foster, Shields.

Referee: Joe Johnson

Attendance: 2,024

Bluebirds star man: Tom White