Barrow 2

Newport County 1

JOSH Gordon fired Barrow to a fine comeback win as the Bluebirds got back to winning ways.

Mark Cooper’s side sent an early blow in the League Two standings ahead of today’s games – and they had to do it from behind after Finn Azaz’s early opener at Holker Street.

But fine second-half strikes from Josh Kay and Josh Gordon did the damage to secure a welcome three points.

Manager Cooper named two changes to his starting line-up following last weekend’s credible draw at Bradford City.

Skipper Mark Ellis returned to the 11 after being suspended. Joe Grayson also came back into the side after being rested due to illness last time out.

It was the visitors who started brightest in the early League Two kick off of the weekend.

Alex Fisher was frustrated after seeing his powerful header fly wide of the mark.

The hosts started to find their feet as Patrick Brough had a header blocked in the early exchanges. And County stopper Nick Townsend made an easy save to keep out Jordan Stevens’ audacious effort.

But the Bluebirds’ pressure was all for nothing as the visitors took the lead.

County nicked the ball on the halfway line and the move was completed as Finn Azaz fired home for a welcome lead.

Cooper’s charges threatened but Brough had an effort blocked before Stevens fired an effort well over the bar from a corner.

Barrow stopper Paul Farman kept the deficit at just the one as he easily held Robbie Willmott’s long-range strike.

Down the other end, Josh Gordon agonisingly fizzed the ball across the face of goal as the hosts desperately tried to level.

The best chance for Barrow to level fell to Josh Kay, but he couldn’t quite beat former Barnsley stopper Townsend with his strike.

Farman produced a fine save in a crazy final minute before half time.

The ex-Carlisle stopper made a good save to keep out Courtney Baker-Richardson before Robbie Gotts forced Townsend into an even better save.

And it was a repeat just after the break as Farman came out quickly to stop Baker-Richardson after he raced in behind the hosts’ defence.

Down the other end, Kay was painfully denied a deserved equaliser as Townsend tipped his effort past the post.

But there was nothing he could do to stroke Kay’s stunning strike nestling in the top corner in the 63rd minute. Gordon came close to getting himself on the scoresheet as he forced Townsend into a good low save after being expertly played in by Stevens.

And the striker then failed to get on the end of substitute Dimitri Sea’s ball on the stretch as Barrow started to up the ante.

The hosts continued to press for a deserved winner as County banked in their own third. And it took a clinical curling strike from Gordon to separate the two sides with 12 minutes to go.

George Williams went close with a late free-kick which went over the bar.