Crewe secures win against Barrow | Calum Agius

Crewe defeated Barrow 3-1 as Tommi O'Reilly, Calum Agius, and Josh March scored first-half goals for the Railwaymen.

What happened?

Crewe edged ahead in the 13th minute with O'Reilly driving home a low volley off the near post. Agius then fired into the bottom corner after being set up by March. Barrow offered little early on but Isaac Fletcher hit a tame shot, pushed around by Crewe keeper Ian Lawlor.

Why it matters for Crewe

The win is a significant boost for Crewe, who have been working to improve their performance. Fletcher 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 poor defending from the resulting corner allowing the Alex to restore their two-goal lead.

What comes next?

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.