Crawley 1 Barrow 0

BARROW suffered their first league defeat in a month as they lost pace with League Two’s top three.

Pete Wild’s side saw their fine three-match winning streak and four-game unbeaten run, in the league, painfully ended after being sucker-punched by Ashley Nadesan’s early goal.

AFC slipped to fifth and are now four points off the automatic promotion places in the fourth tier. 

The Bluebirds lacked a cutting edge as they tried to slice through the hosts in the final third.

They had plenty of half chances, but failed to make them count as the club’s wait for a win at Crawley for a first time since 2009 went on. 

But it was Town who went a fifth league game without defeat as they ensured a third successive 1-0 victory against the Cumbrian club. 

Inspired stopper Ellery Balcombe pulled off some superb saves to keep a deserved clean sheet. 

Wild made a solitary change to the side which were dumped out of the FA Cup to Mansfield Town last weekend.

Winger Ben Whitfield returned to the starting line-up in place of striker David Mojo.

But the Bluebirds got off to the worst possible start as Crawley took an early lead.

Dom Telford flashed a ball across the box for Nadesan to bury after goal-keeper Balcombe found him with a long ball.

Whitfield failed to take advantage of Balcombe’s clearance as he fired over the bar from distance.

Barrow had to soak up some pressure in the middle of the first half as Town threatened a second.

But it was Crawley who were indebted to their keeper after he kept them in front.

Balcombe was forced into a fantastic save as he expertly denied Tom White’s stunning dipping volley on the half-hour mark.

The Bluebirds burst right out of the blocks after the break, but it was the hosts who came closest to scoring.

Telford got himself in a tangle just before the hour mark when he should have doubled Crawley’s lead.

Down the other end, Josh Kay was frustrated when Balcombe pulled off another decent stop to tip Kay’s strike wide.

Striker Billy Waters stung the palms of Balcombe with his effort.

And the shot-stopper did well once again to thwart Waters for a second time.

The Bluebirds had chances to steal a share of the spoils late on as they banged on the door in stoppage time. 

Brilliant Balcombe somehow made a great double save to deny Richie Bennett. 

Opposite number Paul Farman was even sent up for the last-gasp corners as Barrow desperately searched for a late leveller.

But Crawley clung on for dear life to secure the points.