GOAL machine Josh Gordon bagged his first league brace since February 2019 as Barrow picked up a fine 2-0 win at Newport County.

Pete Wild’s brilliant Bluebirds went second after on-song marksman Gordon hit his seventh and eighth goals of the campaign.

The 27-year-old hitman will once again get the plaudits, but it was another superb showing from the Cumbrian club as they fired themselves to second after a first successful visit to Rodney Parade in nine years. 

Signs are good for Wild’s charges after a second successive win without conceding and a fifth victory in six league outings. 

The Bluebirds’ boss kept the faith in the side which put in a stellar showing to beat Doncaster Rovers 2-0 on Tuesday night for the trip to Wales.

Newport started the stronger of the two sides, but it was the Bluebirds who had the first real sight at goal.

It was vintage Barrow since Wild's priceless appointment as some silky build-up play set up Harrison Neal to fire wide of the mark.

But the visitors kept the pressure on as towering centre-back Niall Canavan’s header chipped the varnish of the bar.

The chances continued to flow as Sam Foley fired off target.

Stopper Paul Farman was almost caught out by Scott Bennett’s audacious attempted lob, which dropped wide of the mark.

Frustration started to set in as top scorer Gordon squandered a glorious chance as he put Ben Whitfield’s inviting cross over the bar. 

Barrow were almost forced to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal on the half-hour mark.

County found their foothold again as Thierry Never nodded wide at the back post before Adam Lewis cross-turned-shot hit the ball and thankfully fell safe. 

Prolific Omar Bogle thought he had scored a seventh goal of the season before Canavan slide in to clear his effort off the line. 

But golden boy Gordon was at it again on the stroke of the break as he once again fired the visitors ahead.

The confident striker grabbed his first as he fought off his marker to meet Neal’s ball and put Wild’s charges ahead. 

And the Bluebirds were two up heading towards the hour mark as Robbie Gotts was brought down by Hayden Lindley inside the hosts’ penalty area.

Gordon stepped up and made no mistake as he found the bottom corner to double his and the visitor’s tally. 

Newport needed a response and fast if they were to avoid a third straight defeat. 

But Farman was up to the task as he kept out Nevers’ effort as time started to rapidly run out for the Exiles. 

On-fire Gordon narrowly missed out on a first hat-trick for almost three years when he thundered a header over the bar. 

Some brilliant late defending kept County from having a sniff at a grandstand finish. 

Gotts hit the side netting late on as Barrow completed a convincing victory.