Barrow AFC 3-0 Cheltenham Town Attendance: 1,363

Goals from Scott Quigley, Luke James and Harrison Biggins gave 1,363 Barrow fans an early Christmas present in the shape off a comfortable victory over promotion hopefuls Cheltenham Town.

Caretaker manager Rob Kelly’s men came into the game on the back of a five-game losing streak, while their opponents were sitting third in the table although you would have been forgiven for thinking the roles were reversed at the end of the 90 minutes.

As torrential rain battered Holker Street in the opening stages, the visitors drew an early save from Joel Dixon, before James went close at the other end after doing brilliantly to take the ball under control before swivelling and firing just wide of Josh Griffiths’ goal. Andy Williams could have put Cheltenham ahead soon after, but failed to direct a free header on target.

Quigley then had two golden opportunities to open the scoring; firstly forcing Griffiths into a good stop after getting on the end of a loose ball before Josh Kay sent him one-on-one with a fine pass, only for the striker to blaze over. It didn’t take too long for the Barrow dangerman to make amends, however, when he coolly converted from the spot after he was tripped by Liam Sercombe to send his side into half-time in the lead.

The Robins tried to shake things up with a triple change before the start of the second half, but their task was made even harder just seven minutes after the restart, when James doubled the Bluebirds’ lead.

Matt Platt’s hopeful long ball saw Quigley spring the offside trap and bare down on goal. Griffiths did well to rush out to block the Barrow man’s shot, but was left stranded as the ball fell for James, who clipped a delightful curling effort over the keeper and into the net from 30 yards.

Cheltenham tried to up the ante but found the resolute Barrow defence tough to break down and could have found themselves dead and buried had Kay’s strike on the counter gone the right side of the post.

That was only a stay of execution, though, as Biggins bagged a third with just over quarter of an hour remaining, converting the rebound after Griffiths had saved from the lively James, killing off the game and giving Barrow a well deserved, and much needed, three points.

Barrow AFC (3-5-2): Dixon; Hird, Platt, Brough; Brown, C.Taylor, Beadling, Biggins (J.Taylor 84), Kay (Wilson 79); Quigley (Angus 84), James. Subs not used: Lillis, J.Jones, Reid.

Cheltenham Town (3-5-2): Griffiths; Raglan, Tozer, Boyle; Blair, Sang (Azaz 46), Clements (Chapman 46), Sercombe, Hussey (Freestone 78); May (Lloyd 46), Williams (Reid 59). Subs not used: Harris, Bowry.