Barrow turned on the style to claim their first away win of the new campaign as they swept Oldham Athletic aside with a fine display at Boundary Park on Saturday.
Mark Cooper’s men were the better side from the off and took a first half lead through Ollie Banks early on before two quick goals from Offrande Zanzala and Joe Grayson early in the second half sealed the deal.
It was Barrow who set the tone from the first whistle and pushed their hosts on to the back foot in the opening minutes with a series of deliveries into the box testing The Latics’ rear-guard.
Josh Gordon came close to capitalising on the confident start when he turned sharply on a ball in to him just inside the area but his effort towards the far post just didn’t curl enough to find the net.
A lovely move down the right provided another opportunity for Gordon moments later as he got on to a cross at the front post to glance a header on goal which flashed just wide of the back post as Patrick Brough stretched to try and get a decisive touch.
The pressure told right on 15 minutes when Ollie Banks picked up possession 25 yards out and dropped on to his right foot to hit a crisp low drive which flew past keeper Jayson Leutwiler and into the bottom left corner of the net.
The home side started to come into the game as it wore on and Paul Farman had to make an excellent save to his left to keep out Jamie Bowden’s firm header after good work from the dangerous Dylan Fage on the right.
Alan Sheehan brough a magnificent save from the Bluebirds keeper in first half injury time when his 25-yard free kick crept over the wall and looked set for the top left corner before a full length intervention from Farman.
The second half got off to a dream start for The Bluebirds when the ball broke on the left for Offrande Zanzala and he skilfully glided past two defenders before sending a low finish across Leutwiler for 2-0.
There was less than an hour on the clock when the visiting fans were in raptures once again as Joe Grayson’s whipped free kick from the right bypassed everyone in the middle and flew straight intp the net for a third Barrow goal.
Oldham fans then forced a short stoppage to the game when a small number invaded the pitch and sat in the centre circle to lead protests against the club’s ownership.
However, the game restarted after a few minutes though Barrow’s work was done, and they controlled much of the closing half hour with boss Cooper able to bring on fresh legs in Tom White and Josh Kay.
The Bluebirds could even have increased their lead when Gordon first nodded over a Brough cross from the left before glancing wide from a Brough corner late on.
Full Time: Oldham Athletic 0 Barrow 3
Oldham Athletic: Leutwiler, Piergianni, Adams, Whelan (Keillor-Dunn 46), Hope, Fage, Jameson, Bowden, Bettache, Luamba (Vaughan 73), Sheehan (Diarra 57).
Subs not used: Danielewicz, Dearnley, Da Silva, Couto.
Barrow: Farman, Hutton, J Jones, Grayson, Brough, Taylor, Gotts (White 78), Banks, Stevens (Arthur 92), Zanzala (Kay 83), Gordon.
Subs not used: Lillis, Moloney.
Booked: Grayson.
Attendance: 4,232 (474 Barrow)