Ashley Nadesan made it five goals in his last five league games as Crawley completed a hat-trick of home league wins for the first time since mid-April with a 1-0 victory over Barrow.
Barrow’s hopes of a fourth successive league win were dashed in West Sussex, with Crawley maintaining their unbeaten league record under interim boss Lewis Young.
Young has made no secret of his desire to land the job on a permanent basis, and he went into the clash urging his men to produce “a complete performance” and build on “some fantastic results”.
For the first time since the opening day, the Reds played three strikers and former Carlisle forward Nadesan struck after only six minutes to put his side ahead.
A goal-kick by Ellery Balcombe was kept in play by Nick Tsaroulla, he played in Dom Telford and his low cross was converted at the far post by Nadesan for his sixth of the season.
Keeper Balcombe, on loan from Brentford, denied Barrow an equaliser by turning over Tom White’s goal-bound 25-yard shot just before the half-hour mark.
A slip by Crawley captain George Francomb gave Josh Kay a sight of goal but he shot over from the edge of the area.
The Reds began the second half on the front foot and Tsaroulla had a shot parried by keeper Paul Farman after a fine run before Telford narrowly missed his cross at the far post.
Barrow had an appeal for handball waved away before Billy Waters, who had scored in each of his previous three league games, had a low shot saved by Balcombe.
The Bluebirds pushed keeper Farman upfield in a desperate attempt to force a stoppage-time equaliser, but Crawley held on for a hard-earned victory.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-3-3
- 37Balcombe
- 4Francomb
- 15Francillette
- 6LynchBooked at 46mins
- 25Tsaroulla
- 8Powell
- 39HessenthalerBooked at 90mins
- 28Jenks
- 19TelfordSubstituted forFellowsat 61′minutes
- 9Nichols
- 10NadesanSubstituted forOtehat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Ransom
- 23Johnson
- 24Oteh
- 38Fellows
- 41Robson
- 50Chukwuemeka
Barrow
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Farman
- 21Warren
- 25RayBooked at 59mins
- 6Canavan
- 20KenlockSubstituted forBroughat 60′minutes
- 34WhitfieldSubstituted forBennettat 70′minutes
- 14NealSubstituted forNwabuokeiat 83′minutes
- 13WhiteBooked at 90mins
- 11Kay
- 9Waters
- 10GordonSubstituted forMoyoat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Brough
- 8Nwabuokei
- 12Lillis
- 17Smales-Braithwaite
- 23Moyo
- 26Bennett
- Referee:
- Carl Brook
- Attendance:
- 2,588
Live Text
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Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Barrow 0.
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Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Barrow 0.
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Attempt blocked. Solomon Nwabuokei (Barrow) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Jake Hessenthaler (Crawley Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Offside, Crawley Town. Tom Fellows tries a through ball, but Jake Hessenthaler is caught offside.
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Corner, Barrow. Conceded by Aramide Oteh.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Kay (Barrow) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Paul Farman (Barrow) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyrell Warren.
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Corner, Barrow. Conceded by Ludwig Francillette.
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Attempt saved. Niall Canavan (Barrow) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Josh Kay with a cross.
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Josh Kay (Barrow) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nicholas Tsaroulla (Crawley Town).
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Hand ball by Jack Powell (Crawley Town).
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Tom White (Barrow) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Solomon Nwabuokei (Barrow).
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Jake Hessenthaler (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Tom Nichols (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nicholas Tsaroulla.
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Niall Canavan (Barrow) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tom Nichols (Crawley Town).
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Substitution, Barrow. Solomon Nwabuokei replaces Harrison Neal.

