NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1, BARROW AFC 3

A DIVISION may separate these two sides, but in truth this FA Cup first round tie went to form as Barrow AFC outplayed League One strugglers Northampton Town on their own patch.

That the only irritant was a first goal conceded in five games says a lot about how things went for the Bluebirds at Sixfields, where their unbeaten run was extended to six matches.

Goals from Emile Acquah, Tom White and Ben Whitfield ensured their supporters were eagerly awaiting today's second-round draw (2.30pm).

Victory at this venue two seasons ago played a big part in keeping Barrow in the EFL, but this latest triumph in Northants emphasised the development seen under Pete Wild, and why ambitions of leaving League Two in the other direction are not fanciful.

Two changes were made to the side from the Bluebirds’ derby-night victory over Morecambe on Tuesday, with Mazeed Ogungbo and White coming in for Dean Campbell and Sam Foley.

Those who had made the long trip were celebrating just nine minutes in when Acquah made the most of some loose marking to head in Elliot Newby’s corner for his sixth of the season.

The first threat to Barrow’s lead came five minutes later when Will Hondermarck had space to cut inside from the left, but he could only bend his effort wide of the far post.

Captain Niall Canavan had a half-chance to double the Bluebirds’ lead when he flicked Newby’s cross wide, cueing more murmurs from a home crowd well aware their side had only picked up one point from their last five league games.

But it was the away end left cursing a bizarre equaliser in the 29th minute as Canavan’s clearance struck Sam Hoskins and dropped straight into the path of Mitch Pinnock, who volleyed past Paul Farman.

Marc Leonard shot wide from the edge of the area as Northampton looked to complete the turnaround before Dom Telford almost restored the lead with a long-ranger that whistled just off-target.

James Chester then made a brilliant intervention to kick Hoskins’ ball across goal against Hondermarck and out for a goal kick to keep proceedings level into half-time.

Hoskins had a good chance to put the Cobblers ahead four minutes after the restart when a long ball put him in behind Chester and one-on-one with Farman, but he dragged his effort wide.

Instead, Barrow were back in front in the 52nd minute as a loose ball ran for White, whose first-time shot from 25 yards took a big deflection past a helpless Max Thompson.

The home side appeared to be looking a little sorry for themselves, but they almost squared it up again when Hoskins’ header from Aaron McGowan’s cross dropped onto the roof of the net.

They then gifted the Bluebirds a third goal after 72 minutes when Ali Koiki knocked the ball through the legs of his own goalkeeper, allowing Whitfield to roll into the empty net.

It could have got even better, as Newby’s low cross reached Kian Spence, who was denied by a good save by the previously hapless Thompson, but the scoreline was already one to savour.