Barrow made it two from two in pre-season with a comfortable 1-0 win over Ashton United at Hurst Cross.
Billy Waters had a half chance in the opening 10 minutes, but Ashton ‘keeper Greg Hartley was quick to smother the ball before the Barrow striker could get a boot on it.
Barrow opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Remeao Hutton delivered a great ball from a corner that was met by Niall Canavan in the penalty area. The Barrow captain managed to poke it to Sam McClelland who found the back of the net to put The Bluebirds ahead.
There were a few minor chances for Barrow following the goal, perhaps the most notable being a 20th minute free kick from Robbie Gotts that didn’t end up too far away from the top corner.
The half hour mark saw a fabulous move, with Robbie Gotts winning the ball in the centre of the park and fanning out a pass out to Remeao Hutton on the right wing. Hutton’s cross was found the feet of Sam Foley, but his shot sailed over the bar and out for a goal kick for the hosts.
The Bluebirds dominated possession right up until the break, and almost went into half time with a two-goal lead, but Greg Hartley’s outstretched glove denied Sam Foley from getting on the scoresheet and doubling Barrow’s ascendency.
Pete Wild once again made a clean sweep of changes at half time, with new boys Solomon Nwabuokei and George Ray getting their second bout of pre-season action for The Bluebirds.
It was new boy Nwabuokei that had the first real chance of the second half, when his powerful header from an in-swinging corner narrowly missed the target in the 55th minute.
The 70th minute saw Ashton United’s first major chance of the game, as a great save from Josh Lillis stopped a Robins trialist from levelling the scoreline.
Jordan Stevens might’ve got a few of the 208 supporters out of their seats in the 76th minute, as a curling free kick from 25 yards fell narrowly wide of the goal.
On 88 minutes, Josh Kay's initial effort was spilled to the feet of a Barrow trialist, but the Ashton keeper responded well to keeps out the resulting shot.
Full Time: Ashton United 0 Barrow 1
Attendance: 208
Barrow First Half: Farman, McClelland, Hutton, Waters, White, Trialist, Gotts, Foley, Warren, Bennett, Canavan.
Barrow Second Half: Lillis, Taylor, Ellis, Nwabuokei, Gordon, Kay, Trialist, Grayson, Trialist, Ray, Stevens.