FOREST GREEN lifted themselves off the bottom of Sky Bet League Two with a 2-1 victory at Barrow.

Relegation-threatened Rovers put a dent in the hosts’ promotion hopes as they ended a 15-game wait for a win.

Kyle McAllister put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute with a deflected effort as he nodded in Fankaty Dabo’s cross.

The lead did not last long as Cole Stockton pounced on a poor backpass to score a 25-yard lob eight minutes later.

Goalkeeper Paul Farman kept the hosts in the game as he denied McAllister and Christian Doidge.

Manny Osadebe fired Forest Green back in front just before the hour after an attempted pass bounced back to him.

Barrow’s best chance to rescue a point came when Stockton smashed a long-range strike against the crossbar late on.

Pete Wild’s side slipped to fifth, while Cotterill’s charges cut the gap to safety to six points.

Cotterill said: “It’s a brilliant win for us. 

“There’s no shying away from the fact it’s a long way to come for us.

“We didn’t want to come all this way and leave with nothing, so we’re delighted.

“Hopefully it’s a sign of an upward curve for us. The players have been brilliant since I’ve come in and this is what we’ve been working towards.

“They’ve worked hard on the training ground and results have been good.

“A special mention has to go to Vincente (Reyes). He’s come here on an emergency loan for us and been thrown straight in.

“We want to thank everybody at Norwich for their co-operation yesterday (Monday) to make it happen.”

After seeing his side drop four points off the top three, Barrow boss Wild said: “I’m frustrated tonight.

“First and foremost well done to Forest Green, they’ve taken their opportunities.

“But it’s two silly, frustrating goals for us to give away. They’ve taken them well and left here with the points.

“It’s a really frustrating evening. It’s an evening that promised so much."