Barrow 1, Fleetwood Town 3

The lights went out on Barrow’s Papa John’s Trophy campaign at Holker Street on Tuesday night, a second-half fade out responsible for the Bluebirds’ exit from the competition.

Ozzy Zanzala’s fourth goal of the season gave Mark Cooper’s team an interval advantage against their League One visitors.

But two goals in six minutes from Jay Matete and Ryan Edmondson – prior to a brief floodlight failure – rubber-stamped Fleetwood’s passage to the knockout stages.

Striker Edmondson later set up a debut goal for Ben McMillan as Barrow finished well beaten.

The Cumbrians still have to host Leicester City Under 21s. However, Town’s success and Accrington’s thumping of the young foxes means even a win won’t see Barrow progress.

That will probably be a blessing in disguise for manager Cooper, who has overseen a great start to AFC’s League Two campaign despite a plethora of injuries.

He made six changes from last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Mansfield, raising eyebrows by naming only four substitutes.

Two of those replacements were first-choice keeper Paul Farman and understudy Scott Moloney. But it was 34-year-old goalkeeping coach Josh Lillis who received the gloves for his first start of the season.

Ollie Banks sparked a run of five goals in seven games with one of Barrow’s two goals in the opening Trophy tie at Accrington. But he didn’t feature against the Cod Army and will also sit out Saturday’s return to League Two visit of Leyton Orient.

Fleetwood enjoyed a 4-1 win over Leicester City’s cubs in their opening Trophy tie including a hat-trick from striker Callum Morton. Morton is now sidelined with a knock and Town included four debutants: Connor Teale, Chiekh Thiam, McMillan and Ben Thompson in their starting line-up.

Harrison Biggins, who featured 26 times for the Bluebirds, was among the Fleetwood substitutes.

Another familiar face to home fans was David Dunn, Fleetwood’s assistant head coach and ex-Barrow chief. Dunn lost his job with the Bluebirds last December after just two wins from 22 matches.

It was a big night also for defender Joe Grayson keen to put one over on dad, Simon, the Cod Army boss.

Fortunately, a pre-game rainstorm relented in time for kick-off though a howling gale ensured a challenging night for players of both sides.

Barrow made light of conditions after 15 minutes; Festus Arthur delivering a superb right wing cross and George Williams heading narrowly wide.

Leeds loanee Robbie Gotts tested Billy Crellin from 18 yards before the same player teed-up Zanzala for a fizzing drive which Crellin did superbly well to palm away for a corner.

Fleetwood were less potent though Edmondson was inches away from connecting with Chiekh Thiam’s cross and a Lillis leg deflected Max McMillan’s goal bound shot for a corner after a Jones error.

But Barrow took a deserved 28th minute lead as Williams threaded a ball through for Zanzala and the striker nipped in ahead of Crellin to score.

That was as good as it got as Fleetwood dominated after the break. Matete cracked in a fabulous 48th minute equaliser, Edmondson shot the visitors into a 55th minute lead before he outpaced Grayson to assist McMillan for a 66th minute match clincher.

Attendance: 1,281 (74 from Fleetwood).