Dan Agyei took his goal tally for the campaign to 14 with two first-half penalties as Crewe made it back-to-back wins with a 3-0 success over Barrow.

Lee Bell's men earned revenge for a chastening defeat by the same margin at Holker Street back in October and dented the Cumbrians' play-off push.

Boss Bell was delighted with Agyei's clinical approach from 12 yards, with the attacker putting both kicks in the same spot past Paul Farman after cheekily checking his run-up.

The manager was also pleased with his players' professional approach as they stayed firm at the back under Barrow's second-half pressure before sub Chris Long put eight months of injury misery behind him by completing the scoring in the 89th-minute.

"It was a really good performance with a bit of grit and determination to see us through some pressure from Barrow. We showed some professionalism to see the game out," said Bell.

"They were really good penalties from Dan and he is really cool from the spot, although we weren't happy with a few things happening which were aimed at putting him off the first.

"It was a good win and good for Chris as he is desperate to play and score goals. When he went through we expected him to score. He's had to wait eight months because of his injury problems and hopefully we can get the benefit of him now."

Former Alex defender George Ray was penalised by referee Sam Purkiss when his grapple with Connor O'Riordan as Callum Ainley prepared to send over a corner turned into a bear hug. Dan Agyei converted the 13th-minute award, which enraged visiting boss Peter Wild.

And the attacker was on the spot again in the 33rd-minute after he was brought down by Sam Foley when he motored into the box.

Chris Long netted his first goal in only his third outing of an injury-hit campaign (Picture credit: Kevin Warburton).

Barrow - on their first visit to Gresty Road since March 1972 - improved after the break but they needed Farman to push around a fierce strike from Courtney Baker-Richardson.

Aside from Patrick Brough's miscued effort in the first half, Crewe's only real moment of concern was when a Niall Canavan shot flew off Rio Adebisi's knee and against the bar.

Long put the seal on victory after Agyei turned provider, slipping the Merseysider clear with a neat reverse ball, and the substitute confidently fired into the far corner past Farman.

Barrow boss Wild said: "It was very frustrating the first penalty as that sort of thing happens at every corner every weekend and nothing is ever given. To give it was absolutely ludicrous and it set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

"The second penalty was a penalty though and the referee hasn't lost us the game - we didn't do enough despite our dominance of the second half."