BARROW AFC’s unbeaten home record was ended on Saturday when they went down to fifth-in-the-table Maidstone United.

The game was settled by a 51st minute penalty – but manager Micky Moore was positive about the performance.

“Yes, we made too many mistakes but I thought in the first half we played well. “We had a great opportunity to go one up but we didn’t take it,” he said.

“Five minutes into the second half, one mistake, a penalty. That aside, I can’t remember Joel Dixon having to make a save in 90 minutes. It was another frustrating afternoon but I thought we played well. There was some good football played, but we lost again.”

He is aware it is only two wins in ten games but not all under his charge.

“There have been three defeats at 1-0 and another 3-2 away to the table leaders – but we are not getting battered in games and that’s the biggest frustration,” he said.

“Everyone at the Maidstone game will have gone home disappointed that we lost a game – our first defeat at home. But you can’t leave the ground and feel we got battered or they were better than us. There was nothing in it and we need to score that first goal.

“I would be disappointed if any support at the game said we didn’t play well. We played some really good football. We passed it well. We created a great opportunity to go one in front.

“We keep working hard in the hope it will turn. I can’t criticise the lads but we can’t keep making elementary mistakes.”

Things don’t get any easier for the Bluebirds. Tomorrow Barrow travel to Hartlepool and then next Saturday they entertain Leyton Orient.

“That’s the two teams that have just got relegated from the Football League. Hartlepool started quite slowly but have gradually found their feet at this level and that will be a difficult game.

“Orient will be no easier. We have just got to work hard, compete and battle – like we are doing. We need something to turn for us.”