ADY Pennock cited one moment’s lack of concentration as key to Barrow AFC’s 1-0 home defeat to Dagenham and Redbridge.

The Barrow manager saw his side match one of the favourites for the National League title in chilling winter conditions at Holker Street.

The visitors were unable to dominate in a way the sides’ respective league positions might suggest they could have, but still took the points through Morgan Ferrier’s second-half finish.

Ferrier was able to tap-in at the far post as Barrow switched off and allowed the impressive Core Whitely to into their area and place the ball on a plate for his team-mate at the far post.

It was the only goal of the game, and Pennock felt his side paid the price for a single lapse in an otherwise strong defensive display, with the hosts also having a number of chances they could not convert.

“I think we had a good go, but we just switched off that one time,” said Pennock, whose side dropped a single place to 19th in the National League on the back of the result. “If you look at the table, people were saying we had no chance today, but I thought we had a good opportunity, but we just switched off once and that was it. Apart from that, we had a good go at them.”

He added: “It was the way we wanted it. They are one of the favourites for the league, and I thought we made them look ordinary at times. That’s all credit to our boys.

“They had a couple of chances towards the end, because we were going forward in the last 20 minutes, but their keeper made a couple of good saves.

“The first half, there wasn’t much in it, so I’m not too bad.

“You look at the goal and we switched off, so that’s something we have to work on.

“We needed a little bit of composure in certain places, but other than that I’m not too disappointed.”

Pennock praised the Barrow defence for the way they dealt with the threats of Whitely and Luke Howell out wide, as well as Michael Cheek and Ferrier up front.

Scouts from several higher-division clubs were watching the game, with Whitely and Howell both having attracted attention. Yet, the goal aside, they were restricted in their play by Jimmy Dunne, Moussa Diarra, Paul Bignot and Calum Macdonald.

“They’re good players,” Pennock said of the Dagenham men. “There are two of their players who are going to play in the Football League, that’s for sure. The two wide players and the lad playing off Cheek, they’ll play in the Football League.

“There were a lot of Football League clubs here today watching them, and I thought we played well against them.”

Pennock tried anything he could in the second half to manufacture an opening, with Grant Holt, Adi Yussuf and new loan signing Lewis Walters all coming off the bench.

But, despite their efforts, their was to be no equaliser, and Pennock added: “I thought Grant came on and did ever so well, his link-up play was good. Lewis brought a bit of pace and had a very good start, he’s nice and bright and something to work on.

“I’m not going to be having a go at the players – they’ve had a right old go today, and with a little bit of luck here or there we would have got something.”

Before the game, Barrow confirmed that defender Dave Nieskens had left the club after complications with his knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.

The Dutchman Nieskens was hurt in Barrow’s 1-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers on September 9, and requires another ACL reconstruction.

Managing director Andrew Casson said in a club statement: “We have mutually agreed to the termination of Dave’s contact so he could go back to Holland and focus on getting healthy and getting back into football.

“It’s better for him and us that he be allowed to stay back at home and get the care he needs there, as his injury would have kept him out the rest of the season.

“We wish Dave the best in his recovery and the next steps in his career.”

Nieskens said on Twitter following the announcement: “I want to thank all the fans and the club for giving me a lot of support and trust in playing for Barrow AFC.

“It was hard to make a good decision and hard that I cannot play this season anymore but I will come back so don't forget my name! Once a Bluebird always a Bluebird!”