BARROW AFC 3, ALDERSHOT TN 1

ALDERSHOT Town’s worst performance of the season ended a five-game unbeaten run and helped Barrow to a first win in ten National League matches in Cumbria on Saturday.

Barrow, in contrast, enjoyed their best display – appropriately in front of new manager Ady Pennock, appointed as successor to Micky Moore just 24 hours previously – but the visitors were abject.

The Shots lacked cohesion, strength and any degree of quality. Adi Yussuf, who scored a hat-trick, and Byron Harrison proved a real handful for a shaky defence and the Bluebirds were soon flying.

Gary Waddock described his side’s efforts as “pathetic” and “unacceptable”, insisting: “Our away supporters deserve better than that. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, yet again, after just four minutes. It was a very poor performance, but it’s no surprise. It’s been coming – in the last four or five games we’ve played 45 minutes of decent football, and that’s nowhere near good enough.

“It was a bad day all round, from minute one. Barrow had a right go, but we created our own problems. We’re trying to go forward, but today we took a number of steps backwards.”

Waddock had made three changes to his starting line-up, including a first appearance of the season for goalkeeper Mark Smith, while Jake Cole and Jake Gallagher were dropped to the bench. The manager was soon forced to question whether those players were taking their opportunities as the Shots gave a horribly disjointed display.

Harrison held off his marker to roll a pass through to Yussuf in just the fifth minute and the striker’s deft finish through the legs of Smith set the tone for the afternoon.

Two half-hearted tackles again allowed Tanzania-born Yussuf to break clear, only for Smith to stand up strong and make the block, but on 39 minutes Yussuf made no mistake to double the lead.

Stuart Moore’s wind-assisted free-kick from the edge of his own penalty area was allowed to bounce once down the length of the field and Yussuf stole in ahead of Will Evans to slot a shot across Smith. The shot was well-placed, but the chance created all too easily.

Two minutes into the second half, the hardy 67 travelling fans had a glimmer of hope as Aldershot pulled one back.

Bernard Mensah moved a quickly-taken free-kick out to Adam McDonnell on the left. His cross from deep bounced on the edge of the six-yard box and with Rendell making a nuisance of himself in front of Moore, the ball dropped into the far corner of the net, with the Shots striker claiming the final touch.

The visitors pressed again on 65 minutes and Jim Kellermann had his shot blocked, but one hefty clearance from Chris Clements sent Yussuf racing across the halfway line, shoulder-to-shoulder with Cheye Alexander. The onrushing Smith met the pair 35 yards from goal, but made no contact with the ball and Yussuf found the net from outside the box.

Yussuf could have had a fourth, his angled drive forcing a diving save by Smith at his near post. And a buoyant Barrow continued to push forward. Asa Hall flashed a shot just wide and Smith did well to parry Harry Panayiotou’s long-range effort.

Aldershot had never been able to lift themselves out of second gear and were well beaten long before the final whistle.

Barrow: Moore; Barthram, Bignot, Hughes, Thompson, Bauress; Gomis (Panayiotou 83), Clements, Hall; Yussuf (White 74), Harrison. Subs (not used): Dixon, Diagne, Makoma. Booked: Yussuf, Hughes.

Aldershot: Smith; Alexander, Evans, Reynolds, Arthur (Gallagher 46); Kellermann, Oyeleke; Mensah, Rowe (Okojie 64), McDonnell; Rendell. Subs (not used): Cole, Fowler, Pring. Booked: Oyeleke, Gallagher.

Referee: Simeon Lucas.

Attendance: 1,128 (67 away).

• Aldershot have extended the loan of Forest Green midfielder Fabien Robert until Saturday, December 9. The 28-year-old Frenchman has made nine appearances for the Shots since joining on September 8 and is now eligible for a further seven games, including Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie against Shrewsbury.