Barrow paid the price for a poor start at Newport County and allowed the hosts to score twice in the opening 13 minutes.
The Bluebirds did do much better in the second-half and although gifted a goal back by Newport, couldn’t quite pull it back as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
Manager Mark Cooper said: “We got off to a terrible start by conceding in the first minute. We’d spoken about not conceding throw-ins round our box and that’s what we did right at the start.
“We didn’t defend it properly and they scored from the second phase so we were right up against it.
“Then we lost the ball in mid-field, they broke and their man of the moment Dom Telford came inside and scores.
“But I have to say we were more like it in the second-half and played well. If we can take the second-half performance into Tuesday’s game at Northampton we will have a chance.”
Newport were recording their fourth successive win to maintain their top three place.
In that opening attack, Barrrow failed to deal with a ball into the box which was flicked on towards the dangerous Dom Telford and he hooked home the opening goal.
On 13 minutes they were in more trouble when Telford was afforded the space to get in a shot from the edge of the area and it flew past the helpless Paul Farman.
Telford was equalling a 38-year-old club record – the first County player to reach 20 goals in a season since John Aldridge in 1983/84.
He nearly was able to claim the match ball five minutes later when he worked his way into the box but before he could get in a shot was forced to change direction and a subsequent shot from Finn Azaz was pouched by Farman.
Remeao Hutton, proving lively for Barrow, had their first real strike from 25 yards and it wasn’t too far wide.
Then as Barrow started to come into the game an Anthony Glennon cross was headed wide by debutant Aaron who was being challenged strongly by a defender.
Afterwards manager Cooper had praise for Amadi-Holloway who has joined on loan until the end of the season from Burton.
“I thought he led the line well and gave us more options. I think he will be a useful acquisition,” said Cooper.
He had gone close to an equaliser on 38 minutes when Hutton fired in a good cross and the new signing forced keeper Nick Townsend into an excellent reaction save.
County almost made it 3-0 on 56 minutes when former Bluebird Courtney Baker-Richardson got away and Farman did really well to block with his feet.
Then on 63 minutes Barrow got themselves back into the game with the help of an own goal.
Glennon flashed a cross into the box and keeper Townsend could only palm it onto the legs of defender Jason Demetriou from where it rebounded into the net.
There was a great chance for Olly Banks with three minutes remaining when he got on the end of a brilliant delivery from Patrick Brough, but the skipper’s header flashed wide of the post.
Just seconds later Tom Beadling was in space 25 yards out but dragged a shot wide of the post and County were able to see out time to make sure of all three points.
