Wanderers came from behind to make a winning start to their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign as John McAtee, Aaron Collins and Kyle Dempsey all scored their first goals of the season, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites trailed 1-0 at the break as Barrow threatened to extend their superb start to the season.
But Wanderers then dominated after the break and Ian Evatt made it a happy homecoming to the club he led into the EFL four years ago as three goals in 12 minutes gave his side the three points to share an early lead in Group D with Aston Villa’s Under-21s.
McAtee’s first goal for the club was quickly followed by a super strike from Collins and a third on his return to Cumbria for the impressive Dempsey as Evatt’s men secured Wanderers’ first ever victory at Holker Street.
They therefore head into the international break with a welcome win behind them and 90 more minutes into the legs of all the senior players on duty bar Jordi Osei-Tutu, whose first-half injury is thankfully thought not to be too serious.
With just 11 fit senior players available due to injuries and international calls, Evatt named them all in his starting line-up.
That meant three changes to the side that has started Saturday’s league loss to Exeter as Aaron Collins returned to the team alongside summer signings Jay Matete and Otsei-Tutu.
Barrow made seven changes to the side which had won at Harrogate last weekend to continue their impressive start in League Two.
As well three wins from their opening four league games, the Bluebirds had also chalked up home victories in the Carabao Cup against Port Vale and Derby County to set up a third-round trip to Chelsea.
And Stephen Clemence’s side started well with opportunities for Andy Dallas and Dom Telford, who both forced Nathan Baxter into fine saves.
Barrow keeper Wyll Stanway was also pressed into action as he had to get down sharply to keep out an effort from McAtee which was aiming for the bottom corner.
Wanderers passed their way into some decent positions as the lively Dempsey flashed the ball across the face of goal with McAtee and Aaron Collins striving to get a touch.
And Collins also curled an effort inches wide as the Whites tried to break the deadlock before being forced into a change after half an hour when Luke Matheson replaced the injured Osei-Tutu.
That was a blow and Wanderers then suffered another eight minutes before the break when Barrow went in front when a free-kick into the box was allowed to find Sam Foley to slide the ball home.
Matheson had looked to make an immediate impact with a couple of dangerous runs and following the re-start he was also close to getting onto far-post crosses from McAtee and Collins as Wanderers stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser.
The Whites were increasingly dominant as they looked to try and find a way through and with almost an hour gone they twice thought the moment had come.
Having led a break-away Szabolcs Schön was denied by a fine block from Stanway when the ball came back to the wing-back at the far post and Dempsey then worked the opening for a shot he curled just wide.
It felt like a goal was coming and with just over 20 minutes to go it did as Wanderers made it 1-1 as the heavens opened.
Collins had looked an increasing threat and when he turned and unleashed a shot Stanway could only help onto a post, McAtee slid in to force home the loose ball and open his Wanderers’ account.
It was no more than the Whites deserved and within minutes they were in front.
Again Collins was the man to unlock the Barrow defence as he led another counter-attack before cutting back onto his right foot and arrowing a superb low stroke across Stanway and into the far corner.
It was all Wanderers and a third goal in a dozen match-changing minutes then seemingly made absolutely sure of victory as Dempsey got the goal his performance merited on his return to Cumbria.
The attacking midfield man had kept Barrow on the back foot and when he drove forward again, he picked out Schön before meeting a low cross from the Hungarian international to neatly flick the ball home.
That should have been it but two minutes later Barrow pulled a goal back when Dallas slotted home to revive the hosts of taking the tie to penalties and the chance to compete for a bonus point.
Instead, though, it was Wanderers who went closest to scoring again through McAtee, whose earlier strike had been vital in sparking the successful fightback.
Wanderers: Baxter; Dacres-Cogley, Santos, Johnston; Osei-Tutu (Matheson 31), Thomason, Matete, Schön; Dempsey, McAtee (Lewis 90+4); Collins. Substitutes: Dallimore (GK), Weston, Sharples-Ahmed, Eze, Isong.
Booked: Schön, Dempsey
Barrow: Stanway; Foley, Canavan (Vassell HT), Jackson (Eccleston,60); Worrall, Weston, Campbell (Spence HT), Tiensia; Dallas, Telford (Etaluku 73), Kouyate (Garner HT). Substitutes: Farman, Stokes.
Booked: Stephen Clemence
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 2005 (686 Wanderers)