- Fifth League Two defeat of the season
- Crewe slip to 16th in the standings
- First meeting between the clubs in 50 years
Crewe Alexandra slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Barrow on Saturday.
Goals from Josh Gordon (2) and Billy Waters earned the home side all three points as they climbed to fifth in the table.
The Railwaymen had good chances through Tariq Uwakwe, Bassala Sambou, and Dan Agyei, but drew a blank at Holker Street.
A long trip home awaited the players, management and supporters after a deeply disappointing afternoon in Cumbria.
Alex Morris made two changes to the side that drew at Wimbledon in midweek. Courtney Baker-Richardson was not deemed fit enough to start, so Sambou joined Agyei in attack. Eli King replaced Oliver Finney in midfield.
Former Crewe duo George Ray and Waters started for the home side, while ex-Nantwich striker Gordon came into the side as their only change from a midweek win over Grimsby.
The home side hit the front on eight minutes when Ben Whitfield was allowed to turn and drive forward before seeing his deep cross expertly volleyed home by Waters.
On 20 minutes Arthur Okonkwo made a super save down to his left after Whitfield was allowed space to get forward and let fly.
Sambou had the ball in the back of the net just after the half-hour mark, but the referee pulled play back for a handball by Uwakwe.
On 36 minutes, as Crewe started to apply pressure, Kelvin Mellor’s cross-shot found Tariq Uwakwe at the far post but he steered the ball over from close range.
Okonkwo spread himself to keep out a strike from Waters after the ball had broken down in the Alex midfield.
And it was 2-0 when the quality of Whitfield showed again, and Gordon got a touch on the wide-man's accurate cross to find the second for Barrow.
Just before the half-time whistle, Sambou fired over from a few yards out after taking the ball well on his chest.
Agyei headed wide from a superb Charlie Finney cross, and seconds later forced a save from Barrow sub keeper Josh Lillis, immediately after the restart.
Crewe switched to a back-four with the introduction of Baker-Richardson just before the hour-mark.
But they had no chance to settle in before it was 3-0, when Gordon robbed Zac Williams of the ball and sped forward before finishing clinically.
Conor Thomas brought a routine save from Lillis, and Baker-Richardson headed wide, as Crewe plugged away.
But they could not find a goal, and Okonkwo had to make a good save from Sam Foley’s audacious long-range effort as injury-time ticked down.
Barrow (4-4-2): Farman (Lillis 46); Warren, Canavan, Ray (Moyo 76), Brough (Kenlock 55); White, Neal (Foley 55), Warren, Whitfield (Stevens 81); Gordon, Waters.
Subs not used: Smales-Braithwaite.
Booked: Gordon, Stevens, Kenlock
Crewe (3-5-2): Okonkwo; Mellor, Offord, Williams (Sass-Davies 69); Adebisi (Baker-Richardson 59), Thomas, Tabiner (C Finney 33), King, Uwakwe; Sambou, Agyei.
Subs not used: Richards, Leshabela, O Finney, Griffiths.
Booked: Williams, Sambou
Referee: Marc Edwards
Attendance: 3,167 (373)