Paul Gallagher's first game in charge of Barrow ended in a 3-1 defeat at Crewe as Tommi O'Reilly, Calum Agius and Josh March scored first-half goals for the Railwaymen.

The Cumbrians' new head coach saw his team concede twice inside four minutes and although Isaac Fletcher hit back, Barrow have now won just once in their last 12 fixtures.

O'Reilly edged the Railwaymen ahead in the 13th minute, driving home a low volley off the near post, before Agius fired into the bottom corner after being set up by March.

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Barrow offered little early on but Fletcher hit a tame shot, pushed around by Crewe keeper Ian Lawlor, and then stretched to meet the resulting corner with a far-post header which flew wide.

The striker eventually converted a simple finish in the 31st minute when following up after Lawlor was unable to hold Connor Mahoney's low shot.

Crewe responded and Wyll Stanway gloved Matus Holicek's rising drive over, only for dreadful defending from the resulting corner allowing the Alex to restore their two-goal lead. Max Sanders' delivery, headed on by Mickey Demetriou, was left to bounce into the path of March who finished from a couple of yards out.

Barrow came out fighting in the second half and went close when Mahoney arrowed a low shot just past the post and Fletcher was thwarted by Lawlor.

Lawlor kept out Scott Smith's flick from substitute Tom Barkhuizen's cross, but Crewe had done their work in the first half.

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