Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt was disappointed his side couldn’t make the most of their first-half performance at Wrexham, as they fell to an opening day 2-1 defeat at the Racecourse Ground.

The Bluebirds were the better side in the first half in North Wales, but were unable to add to Josh Granite’s first goal for the club, despite them having some clear-cut chances to do so.

It’s not the first time that a failure to convert opportunities has proved costly for AFC and it is a habit carried over from last season that needs to be put to bed if they are to challenge for the play-offs this year, as Evatt is demanding.

Losing their lead just three minutes into the second half to JJ Hooper’s equaliser proved to be a massive turning point, as it put the Dragons’ tails up and they went on to control the remainder of the game. 

Evatt said: “I think if anyone who’s been at the game is being honest, we should have been 3-0 up at half-time.

“We missed two gilt-edged chances that you cannot account for being missed, but we spoke at length before the game that they’re dangerous from crosses and set-pieces and they’ve scored from a cross and a set-piece.

“We needed to be a bit better with the ball in the second half, but in the first half it was a perfect away performance, bar the goals.

“Two minutes into the second half, we concede a sloppy foul and then we don’t defend the set-piece and the whole atmosphere in the stadium changes.

“When you give them a leg-up that early in the second half, it changes their mentality, it changes the crowd’s mentality and then it’s really backs to the wall.

“Again, we were a bit naïve but there were some really positive signs, especially in the first half.”