Top scorer Josh Gordon reached double figures for the season as Barrow underlined their status as surprise League Two promotion contenders with a 3-1 victory over struggling Hartlepool.
Pete Wild’s side, now up to fourth in the table, virtually wrapped up the points by netting all three goals in the opening 21 minutes.
There were just four minutes on the clock when a fresh mistake by Hartlepool keeper Ben Killip helped set Barrow on their way to a fourth successive home league win.
Killip, caught unawares by Danny Rose in defeat at Stevenage last week, rushed out of his area as Barrow pushed forward but lost possession of the ball.
With the net unguarded, Gordon curled in his 10th goal of the campaign from 25 yards.
Barrow doubled their advantage four minutes later when Ben Whitfield fired past Killip for his fifth goal of the season and first since 13 September.
Worse was to follow for Keith Curle’s visitors when Gordon provided the assist for Billy Waters to tap home for his seventh goal of the campaign.
Rock-bottom Pools noticeably improved after half-time but only had Chris Missilou’s 77th-minute debut goal as consolation.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Barrow
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Farman
- 21WarrenSubstituted forKenlockat 70′minutes
- 25Ray
- 6Canavan
- 3Brough
- 13WhiteSubstituted forBennettat 81′minutes
- 14Neal
- 34WhitfieldSubstituted forStevensat 70′minutes
- 9WatersSubstituted forNwabuokeiat 62′minutes
- 11Kay
- 10GordonSubstituted forMoyoat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Nwabuokei
- 12Lillis
- 20Kenlock
- 23Moyo
- 26Bennett
- 35Stevens
Hartlepool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Killip
- 26TumiltyBooked at 43mins
- 5Murray
- 3FergusonSubstituted forOduorat 25′minutes
- 14Paterson
- 8FeatherstoneSubstituted forCookeat 45′minutesBooked at 47mins
- 20SyllaBooked at 90mins
- 28Missilou
- 7HastieBooked at 17minsSubstituted forMcDonaldat 82′minutes
- 19Hamilton
- 33RobinsonSubstituted forGreyat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Cooke
- 11McDonald
- 12Grey
- 17Taylor
- 18Ndjoli
- 21Letheren
- 27Oduor
- Referee:
- Leigh Doughty
- Attendance:
- 3,284
Live Text
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Match ends, Barrow 3, Hartlepool United 1.
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Second Half ends, Barrow 3, Hartlepool United 1.
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Mohamad Sylla (Hartlepool United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Mohamad Sylla (Hartlepool United).
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Solomon Nwabuokei (Barrow) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Josh Kay (Barrow) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Moyo.
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Attempt saved. Jordan Stevens (Barrow) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Wesley McDonald (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Clarke Oduor.
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Foul by Brody Paterson (Hartlepool United).
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Harrison Neal (Barrow) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Reghan Tumilty (Hartlepool United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Christopher Missilou (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jordan Stevens (Barrow).
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Substitution, Hartlepool United. Wesley McDonald replaces Jake Hastie.
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Substitution, Barrow. Richie Bennett replaces Tom White.
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Substitution, Barrow. David Moyo replaces Josh Gordon.
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Mohamad Sylla (Hartlepool United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom White (Barrow).
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Attempt missed. Josh Gordon (Barrow) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom White.
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Goal! Barrow 3, Hartlepool United 1. Christopher Missilou (Hartlepool United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal following a set piece situation.
