Midfielder Luke Burgess is in no doubt that Barrow AFC must learn to kill games off while they’re on top, after they allowed Tuesday night’s game against Gateshead to slip away from them.

The Bluebirds absolutely dominated the first half-hour of their clash with the Heed at Holker Street, with the only surprise being that it took them 25 minutes to break the deadlock.

The reality is that Ian Evatt’s side could have been 3-0 to the good even at that early stage after overwhelming their visitors with a quick tempo and some incisive passing.

But they were unable to capitalise on such a good start and Gateshead eventually returned to Tyneside with the three points with goals either side of half-time.

Burgess, AFC’s star performer on the night, said: “It’s gutting because we battered them all game and it was just two soft goals that have cost us.

“We’ve just got to learn to kill teams off, see it out to half-time and just be clinical, really.

“I think out first-half performance on Tuesday was up there, in terms of what we’ve produced so far this season.

“The first 25 minutes to half an hour, we killed them and we felt like our goal was coming, but once that went in we wanted to get the second. It just wasn’t to be.”

What Barrow have struggled with so far this season is an inability to deal with setbacks.

Against Gateshead, for example, it took them until the final ten minutes to return to something approaching the style of football they began the game with, once Steve Watson’s men had turned the match in their favour.

Burgess, 19, is one of several young players in Evatt’s squad, with Tuesday’s line-up once again having an average age of around 22-and-a-half years.

When asked how a youngster such as himself reacts to that kind of situation, Burgess said: “You’ve just got to keep on going, keep showing for the ball and trying to make things happen.

“It might not have come on Tuesday night, but hopefully on Saturday at Dover, it will come then. We’ve hit enough post and bar lately, but I think we’ll be getting a change of luck shortly.”

Despite September proving to be a frustrating month, Burgess is very much relishing his first taste of senior football, following his arrival, on loan, from Championship side Wigan Athletic in August.

“It’s certainly different, but I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“The gaffer has been really good with me and has given me some freedom, on the pitch, and it’s a great team to play in with a good set of lads.”