Newport County fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Barrow on Saturday afternoon.
Joshua Gordon opened the scoring late in the first half for Barrow after we had created numerous good chances to score the first goal.
Gordon got his second of the game from the penalty spot after Hayden Lindley’s late challenge and despite pressing for a goal the Exiles failed to find a way through.
County were the first team to go close to opening the scoring, when Priestley Farquharson got on the end of Mickey Demetriou’s looping cross, Niall Canavan was there to clear the danger right in front of the posts though.
Benjamin Whitfield struck a fierce volley at goal from outside the area on ten minutes, but Nick Townsend saw it end up comfortably wide of the left-hand post.
Barrow captain Canavan then had his head in his hands moments later after seeing his header fall just wide if the top right corner.
Sam Foley was the next to take aim, twisting and turning on the edge of the area before attempting a curling effort which was just too high for the top corner.
Gordon spurned a golden chance on 20 minutes for the visitors after a swift counter-attack led to Ben Whitfield squaring the ball to the frontman, however, he blazed well over from close range with the goal gaping.
County came close themselves shortly after through an unlikely source. Scot Bennett won the ball on the halfway line and after carrying it well into the Barrow half, sent a dangerous chipped shot that left the ‘keeper scrambling, but it dropped just wide.
Thierry Nevers did well to beat his man in the air at the back post following an Adam Lewis cross, but it wasn’t the best contact and the ball bobbled harmlessly wide.
Lewis then nearly scored himself, again from a cross. After playing a neat one-two with Nevers he sent a ball in that looped over Paul Farman but onto the top of the crossbar.
We then came so close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark through Omar Bogle. Bogle beat a couple of defenders, played it out to Nathan Moriah-Welsh who returned the favour, only for Bogle’s powerful drive to be cleared at the back post with Nevers lurking.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play just before the interval, with Gordon the man to scramble the ball one-on-one after being played in behind by Neal.
Moriah-Welsh was our brightest spark all afternoon and won the ball with an exquisite turn, however, after charging forward at goal could only sent his shot high over the bar with Bogle screaming for it to his right.
Referee James Oldham pointed to the spot just before the hour mark after Hayden Lindley brought down with a poorly timed slide tackle.
Gordon stepped up to double his side’s lead and give us a mountain to climb, sending Townsend the wrong way to slot home into the bottom left.
Nevers had a go from outside the area on 66 minutes, his tame shot was easily saved though as the home fans grew frustrated.
It was nearly three for the visitors just after 70 minutes, Myles Kenlock’s whipped ball in was met by Whitfield inside the 6-yard box, with the winger somehow sending it over the bar.
The Exiles had a good opportunity through Nevers as the clock ticked down, Cameron Norman found Nevers in space down the right, and he flashed a ball across the 6-yard box only for it to be cleared away from danger.
With five minutes to go we started to put pressure on the Barrow goal, and substitute Chanka Zimba was denied by a goal saving tackle from Canavan as he looked to strike at goal deep inside the penalty box.
NEWPORT COUNTY: Townsend (GK), Norman, Farquharson, Bennett, Demetriou, Adam Lewis, Moriah-Welsh, Lindley (Zimba, 77), Waite (Evans, 67’), Nevers, Bogle.
Subs not used: Day (GK), Clarke, Dolan, Bowen, Aaron Lewis
BARROW AFC: Farman (GK), McCelland, Canavan ©, Gordon, Kay (Moyo, 77’), Neal, Gotts, Foley, Kenclock, Warren, Whitfield (Waters, 77’).
Subs not used: Gillis, Ray, Roone.