BATTLING Barrow slipped to a third straight League Two defeat as they lost 2-0 at Newport County.

Goal machine Dom Telford bagged his 20th and 21st efforts of an incredible campaign to condemn the Bluebirds to another defeat at Rodney Parade.

Mickey Demetriou’s second-half own goal gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.

But Ollie Banks squandered a great late chance to secure a share of the spoils for the long trip home.

Mark Cooper’s charges remained seven points above the dreaded drop zone to non-league football.

Cooper made a quintet of changes from his side’s defeat at home to Salford last weekend.

New signing Aaron Amadi-Holloway, on loan from League One Burton Albion, was ushered straight into the starting line-up in a bid to improve Barrow’s misfiring form in front of goal.

Luke James was recalled, whilst Tom Beadling returned from his three-match suspension and Anthony Glennon recovered from injury in time to start.

But the new-look visitors got off to the worst possible start as they found themselves two goals behind after just 12 minutes in south Wales.

Prolific marksman Telford was too hot to handle as he fired the Exiles two goals to the good early on.

The 25-year-old hitman needed just two minutes to get on the scoresheet as he nodded the hosts ahead from close range.

And he was at it again 10 minutes later to all but end struggling Barrow’s hopes of getting something from their arduous nine-hour round trip.

Barrow were dispossessed in midfield by Finn Azaz and Telford finished the counter attack as his fine curling effort left Paul Farman helpless.

Former Carlisle stopper Farman did well to deny Telford a hat-trick inside 18 minutes before keeping out Azaz’s close-range follow up.

Cooper’s frustrated visitors could barely get a sniff, with Remeao Hutton firing wide of the mark from long range.

But Barrow really started to find their feet.

Loanees Glennon and Amadi-Holloway combined well as the latter headed wide.

Amadi-Holloway forced Nick Townsend into a good stop to beat his header away after moving well to get on the end of Hutton’s cross.

After the break, Farman did well to keep out Courtney Baker-Richardson’s after the winger raced clear down the left-hand side.

But Barrow halved their deficit to get themselves back into the contest just after the hour mark.

It was returning Glennon who provided the goal as he cross hit defender Demetriou and went into his own net.

Telford squandered a great chance for his deserved third, but most importantly to reclaim his side’s two-goal cushion, as he headed off target.

Farman kept the visitor’s slight hopes of a late point alive when he denied Oliver Cooper with just eight minutes left.

But Banks missed the big chance in the 87th minute when he headed Patrick Brough’s pin-point cross wide at the near post.