- Railwaymen rise to fourth place
- Nevitt bags 11th of the season
- Billington and Holicek open accounts
Crewe Alexandra made it four wins on the spin with a terrific 3-1 success at Barrow.
The Railwaymen fell behind to a Robbie Gotts strike but Elliott Nevitt levelled before the break with his 11th of the season.
They secured the three points after the restart as Lewis Billington celebrated putting pen to paper on a contract by scoring his first goal for the club.
And Matus Holicek opened his goalscoring account with the third, as four substitutes combined in fine style.
Barrow’s unbeaten home record was over and, as a result, Crewe leapfrogged them into fourth – outside the League Two automatic promotion spots only on goal difference.
Now The Railwaymen will prepare for another away day at Morecambe on Tuesday.
Lee Bell made one change to the side that beat Swindon last time out, with Shilow Tracey recalled in place of the departed Joe White.
New signing Josh Austerfield joined a strong bench which included fit-again Holicek.
Barrow, for whom ex-Alex man George Ray started in a defence that had previously conceded just eight league goals at home, left new signing Cole Stockton on the bench.
After a quiet start, the hosts hit the front on nine minutes. David Worrall was afforded space to cross first time and Gotts was on hand to steer a volley home.
But it was 1-1 on 20 minutes when Christopher Long raced down the left and squared for Nevitt to tap home from close range.
Nevitt almost scored again a few minutes later but lifted the ball just wide after connecting with a Rio Adebisi cross.
Strong defending from Connor O’Riordan at the far post stopped Jamie Proctor from getting on the end of another Worrall delivery.
Just before the break, Adebisi’s swirling free-kick was perfect for Nevitt but the striker could only head over the bar.
And Ray made a super block to keep out a Tracey strike just before the whistle.
Mickey Demetriou’s long throw got Tracey behind the home defence soon after the restart but the Alex striker was well snuffed out by a combination of defenders and keeper Paul Farman.
Long had penalty appeals waved away as the visitors pressed, and he saw a long-range strike held by Farman just before the hour-mark.
On 64 minutes, The Railwaymen hit the front. Tracey got to the byline and stood up a cross to the far post where Billington powered home his first for the club.
Crewe switched to 5-3-2 in response to Barrow’s change to a back four, as the dynamics of the game changed again.
The third Crewe goal arrived on 84 minutes and invoved four substitutes.
Austerfield’s diagonal ball was collected on the chest of Ryan Cooney, who teed up Courtney Baker-Richardson. His strike was parried by Farman but Holicek was there to nod home with his first touch.
Baker-Richardson raced clean through before the end but Farman made a good stop with his legs.
At the other end, keeper Tom Booth made an excellent save to deny Alex Newby and Crewe were home and dry.
Barrow (5-3-2): Farman; Ray (Telford, 70), Canavan, Chester, Worrall; Gotts (Campbell, 61), Spence, White (Stephenson, 80), Whitfield (Acquah, 80); Newby, Proctor (Stockton, 70).
Subs not used: Lillis, Feely.
Booked: Chester.
Crewe (4-2-3-1): Booth; Billington, O’Riordan, Demetriou, Adebisi; Thomas (Holicek, 81), Offord; Tracey (Baker-Richardson, 73), Rowe, Long (Austerfield, 61), Nevitt.
Subs not used: Davies, Colkett, Leigh.
Booked: Tracey, Offord, Demetriou, O’Riordan, Nevitt
Referee: T Parsons.
Attendance: 3,757 (371).