Barrow AFC 1 Aldershot Town 0

They weren't exactly hanging on at the end, but Barrow AFC will be relieved not being able to kill the game off against Aldershot Town didn't come back to haunt them.

The Bluebirds were up against the team where the turning point in their season occurred - who knows what would have become of them had Joel Dixon not saved that stoppage-time penalty in the 2-1 win at the Recreation Ground back in September?

What we do know, however, is that they not looked back since and instead of this being another changing of the tide, their latest clash with the Shots was largely more of the same.

AFC largely dominate games these days, and this was no different. It's not just down to them controlling possession, either, as there's a real hunger to win the ball back when the opposition have it. The hosts repeatedly did that high up the pitch, which led to them creating numerous opportunities to add to the somewhat fortuitous goal from Dior Angus that put them ahead, but they were frustratingly wasteful.

You're almost having to nitpick to find fault with Barrow these days, but if there is one area where improvement is needed it is that they need to be more clinical in front of goal.

Where the Bluebirds do deserve credit, though, is that they didn't become nervous despite not building on their one-goal lead. Rather than dropping back, they kept on attacking until the final whistle, even if they did keep missing.

What is also clear is that there is real strength in depth in Barrow's midfield now.

Jason Taylor missed this game because of flu and his absence would have been keenly felt last season - AFC just didn't have the same drive in the middle of the park on the rare occasions when he wasn't there.

John Rooney showed again he has become a keener competitor to add to his quality on the ball this season, Lewis Hardcastle gave his usual workrate and dynamism, while Tom White shone.

This was the first time White has completed 90 minutes since signing on loan from Blackburn, suggesting that he is now fully up to speed and it was through him that plenty of chances came.

Rooney, of course, was a central figure as well, with his threat from free kicks drawing a couple of good saves from Aldershot goalkeeper Mitch Walker, who became the latest visiting stopper to enjoy a good game at Holker Street.

It was from a set-piece that the game's only goal arrived, with Hardcastle rolling the ball back for Rooney, whose shot went into a crowd of bodies, came off Angus and ricocheted into the net.

There were a couple of scares in the second half, as Shots defender Max Hunt sent a free header from a Jack Powell corner wide, while Dixon came up with another big moment, as he claimed the ball off Lewis Walker, who was clean through on goal and tried to go around him.

At the other end, there was an awful miss from Josh Kay, while Angus, Jack Hindle and Rooney were all denied by Mitch Walker when they could have done better, but this didn't prevent another deserved three points coming AFC's way.

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