CRAWLEY Town’s first ever visit to a sun-kissed Holker Street ended in disappointment after they twice surrendered the lead to relegation scrappers Barrow.

The Red Devils led 2-0 and then 3-2, but an injury time goal from Barrow substitute Nick Rogan meant the points were shared.

Steve Evans’ men, playing their fourth game in the last eight days, were the better side in the first half and Barrow goalkeeper Tim Deasy made early saves from Jamie Cook and Jon Shaw.

Crawley took a deserved lead on 19 minutes when Barrow defender Simon Spender headed the ball across his own goal to a grateful Robbie Matthews. He helped the ball onto Cook, who prodded home from ten yards out.

Deasy was called into action again on 38 minutes to save a low 20-yard drive from Cook as the visitors, who made the 645-mile round trip to Cumbria in one day, continued to dominate with their neat football and good movement.

A second goal came right on the stroke of halt-time when referee Andy Halliday awarded Crawley a controversial penalty.

Barrow left-back Carlos Logan was the man punished for an alleged high foot as Adam Quinn stooped low to try and head the ball. Cook sent Deasy the wrong way with an excellent spot-kick into the corner of the net.

A double substitution by Barrow joint-managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan during the break inspired the Bluebirds to a fantastic second-half display.

The introduction of strikers Rogan and Lee Hunt gave Barrow real energy in a three-pronged attack alongside top-scorer Jason Walker.

Barrow pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when Crawley failed to clear a corner and Rogan finished at the second attempt.

Midfielder Andy Bond then had an effort chalked off for offside before Barrow eventually forced an equaliser. It came on 65 minutes when centre-half Steve McNulty met a Bond cross and planted his header into the corner of the net from 12 yards out.

Against the run of play, Crawley went back in front when a mistake by Barrow skipper Paul Jones gifted the ball to Matthews. He fed substitute Isiaih Rankin, who cleverly lifted the ball over the out-rushing Deasy.

Barrow, however, were not done. Rogan and Mark Boyd both went close and the home side also had two penalty shouts turned down.

Then, two minutes into the four minutes of injury time, the Bluebirds grabbed the last-gasp equaliser their second half performance deserved. A long cross-field pass from Bond was taken out of the air by Spender, who cut inside his man and fired a shot at Simon Rayner. The Crawley keeper made a save but the ball fell for Rogan, who tapped in from close range.

Barrow: Deasy, Spender, Jelleyman, Jones, McNulty, McGill (Rogan h/t), Bond, Boyd, Walker, McEvilly (Hunt h/t), Logan (Brown 85).

Subs not used: Kerr, Martin.

Yellow cards: None.

Crawley: Rayner, Gaia, Rents, Giles, Bulman, Matthews, Cook (Wilson 60), Hurren (Rankin), Quinn, Shaw, Malcolm (Kileen 64).

Subs not used: Forest, Nayee.

Yellow cards Rankin (64).

Attendance: 1,456.