Barrow AFC 2 Bromley 0

Barrow AFC showed a wider audience, not to mention a big crowd at Holker Street, why they are going to take some shifting at the top of the National League after seeing off fellow contenders Bromley.

The Ravens now have a mountain to climb if they want to topple the Bluebirds, as there is now an eight-point gap between the two teams, with Ian Evatt’s side still having two games in hand.

They remain three points clear at the head of the division, but it’s now Harrogate Town who are their closest challengers, after Yeovil were held to a draw by Hartlepool.

In front of the BT Sport cameras, Bromley provided a much sterner test than AFC were given in their last two Saturdays and they had two huge chances to cancel out birthday boy Dior Angus’ opening goal.

They were eventually sunk when John Rooney’s corner snuck in at the near post between a Ravens defender and goalkeeper Ryan Huddart to seal another big step towards Barrow’s promotion dream.

There was just one change made to the team that ran up Barrow’s second seven-goal win in the space of a week against FC United, as Dior Angus came in up front for Byron Harrison.

Joel Dixon created an early problem for himself when rushed off his line only to miscue his clearance against Patrick Brough, who bailed out his goalkeeper by deflecting Ben Williamson’s shot wide.

It was a cagey opening to the contest, with Bromley providing a much more effective defensive barrier than either Ebbsfleet or FC United in the previous couple of weekends.

It took 19 minutes for Rooney to have his first opportunity from a free kick, which flicked off the wall and needed to be tipped over by Huddart.

From the resulting corner, the Bluebirds were almost gifted the lead when Sam Wood headed Rooney’s kick just wide of his own post.

The visitors to hold firm, as Rooney had a shot from point blank range well blocked after Angus, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, had done well to turn the ball across goal.

AFC broke the deadlock, though, after 34 minutes through a goal of real quality, as Josh Kay sent a good ball out to the right for Rooney, who drove into the area before his low cross was tapped in at the back post by Angus.

It was the third time in a row he had struck against Bromley, who clung on as Barrow looked for a quick second, and 1-0 to the hosts was how it remained at half-time.

Bromley almost equalised three minutes after the restart when Frankie Raymond’s ball over the top reached Luke Coulson, whose looped his effort over Dixon before Sam Hird got back to brilliantly clear the ball off the line.

It was part of a bright start to the second half from the Ravens, in which the Bluebirds’ defending didn’t look as assured as it normally does.

They managed to regain their composure, while the visitors continued to be on their guard at the other end to prevent any clear-cut chances for AFC to double their lead.

They had strong appeals for a penalty turned down when Jason Taylor appeared to be bundled over before Barrow had their second big let-off of the evening.

The hosts were caught on the break from their own corner, which led to Wood putting the ball across the area, where debutant Corey Whitely, just off the bench, shanked horribly wide.

More good fortune came Barrow’s way in the 73rd minute as they added a second when Rooney’s corner from the left somehow got past Huddart at the near post.

The Bluebirds started to hit top gear, with Scott Quigley turning in the box before curling a brilliant effort against the bar, with Olly Dyson’s rebound being turned away by Huddart.

Two was enough, however, as AFC took another big step towards achieving their dream, while also potentially eliminating one of their competitors.

Barrow AFC (3-4-1-2): Dixon, Hird, Platt, Brough, Barry, Taylor, White, Kay, Rooney (Hardcastle 83), Angus (Dyson 76), Quigley (Harrison 89).

Subs not used: Brown, Hindle.

Bromley (3-4-1-2): Huddart, Holland, Winfield, Chambers, Kizzi, Rees (Whitely 67), Raymond (Higgs 89), Wood, Coulson, Cheek (Clifton 83), Williamson.

Subs not used: Coker, Najia.

Referee: James Bell

Attendance: 3,155

Bluebirds star man: Sam Hird