VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE 1 (Whitely 65) BARROW AFC 4 (Hughes 41, Harrison 45, 77pen, Bennett 63)

BARROW AFC moved to within three points of National League leaders Forest Green Rovers – with a game in hand – after a storming 4-1 win at Dagenham and Redbridge, writes NED KEATING .

It was a result against their promotion rivals that lifted the Bluebirds to third and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 games.

For much of the first half, the sides looked evenly-matched, but two quick-fire goals for AFC – for the third time in as many matches – just before the break turned the match on its head.

The Cumbrian outfit extended their lead after the break and, though the Daggers threatened a late rally, a fourth from the spot proved enough for Paul Cox ’s men.

With Forest Green dropping points for the third game in succession, going down 3-1 at Wrexham, Barrow closed the gap to the top and could make further inroads with their game in hand at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night.

The Bluebirds made just one change to the team which beat Guiseley 3-0 on Tuesday, with Tim Erlandsson coming in for his debut after joining on loan from Nottingham Forest following the season-ending knee injury to Joel Dixon.

Almost as if to show how late Erlandsson was signed – he only joined his team-mates for the first time on the coach ride to Essex – the Swedish stopper bore a kit with no name or number on his back.

Within two minutes of the start, Byron Harrison and Richie Bennett went close to an opener, but their close-range efforts were blocked by home debutant Magnus Okuonghae. Six minutes later, Harrison won a foul from Okuonghae 20 yards out, but the free-kick from Jordan Williams was straight at Elliot Justham in the Daggers goal.

With 14 minutes gone, Bennett broke the offside trap from a goal-kick, but blazed over from the edge of the area when he perhaps should have continued his run.

Two minutes later, Erlandsson showed great reactions to tip over a shot from Corey Whitely, who had half-volleyed at goal from 18 yards.

In the 23rd minute, Erlandsson had to backpedal to just tip a Maguire-Drew free-kick from 35 yards over the bar.

The corner was cleared, but only to Luke Guttridge, whose cross was nearly diverted into his own net by Moussa Diarra.

A series of corners followed, but Barrow did enough to cope before clearing their lines.

In the 42nd minute, Barrow took the lead through Liam Hughes, though it took a while for the goal to be awarded.

Hughes nodded a Williams corner at goal and it appeared to have been headed off the line by Jordan Maguire-Drew, before referee Robert Whitton signalled a goal following a signal from the linesman.

On the stroke of half-time, Harrison doubled the lead for Barrow when rounding off a swift counter. After a loose pass from the hosts, Bennett broke at pace before slipping the ball into the path of Harrison to tap home as Barrow led by two at half-time.

Two minutes into the second half, Bennett almost got on the scoresheet himself after pouncing on an error by Daggers defender Jimmy Shepherd, but Justham saved well.

In the 50th minute, Erlandsson produced two splendid saves to deny both Corey Whitely and Frankie Raymond in quick succession.

Despite that, Barrow appeared to have wrapped the game up in the 63rd minute when Bennett found the net in spectacular fashion.

The Bluebirds forward fired a venomous half-volley at goal from just inside the box, which dipped over a despairing Justham.

However, Daggers hit back less than a minute later when Whitely netted after good work from Guttridge.

Erlandsson had to be at his best to prevent the Essex club from adding a second in the 71st minute, pushing a Guttridge effort just past the post.

Barrow, though, did restore their three-goal lead in the 76th minute when Harrison scored a penalty after Moussa Diarra had been pushed by Okuonghae in the box.

See the reaction of AFC manager Paul Cox to the win here .

Dagenham (4-2-3-1): Elliot Justham; Jimmy Shepherd, Magnus Okuonghae, Josh Staunton, Joe Widdowson; Scott Heard (Tyrique Hyde 81), Frankie Raymond; Jordan Maguire-Drew, Luke Guttridge, Corey Whitely; Oliver Hawkins (Paul Benson 77).

Substitutes Not Used: Mark Cousins, Chris Assombalonga, Scott Mitchell.

Barrow (4-4-2): Tim Erlandsson; Shaun Beeley, Danny Livesey, Moussa Diarra, Nick Anderton; Liam Hughes, Alex-Ray Harvey, Ryan Yates, Jordan Williams (Lindon Meikle 90+1); Richard Bennett, Byron Harrison (Ross Hannah 85).

Substitutes Not Used: Andrew Haworth, Akil Wright, Myles Anderson.

Yellow Cards: Erlandsson (50), Williams (58).

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 1,228 (99 Barrow fans).