Dartford slipped to their second defeat in four days when relegation-threatened Barrow took all three points at Princes Park on Tuesday night.

Richie Baker's penalty was the difference between the sides in a game which was painfully short of quality from beginning to end.

Tony Burman made three changes from the side which started Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Hyde. Jason Prior made his debut in attack after arriving on loan from AFC Wimbledon and there were also starts for Richard Rose and Jack Evans. Jacob Erskine and James Rogers dropped to the bench and there was no place in the squad for Adam Green.

Dartford were sluggish early on and Barrow created the best chances. Marcus Bettinelli rushed out to thwart Danny L Rowe but the ball ran loose and Darts defenders did well to block follow-up efforts from Alex-Ray Harvey and Adam Dawson.

Dawson, making his debut for the Bluebirds, had a free-kick pushed round the post by Bettinelli, who then held a long-range effort from the same player.

There was a controversial moment at the other end when Elliot Bradbrook (pictured), bearing down on goal, was clipped by Steve Williams. The home crowd howled for a red card but referee Charles Breakspear chose to show only yellow.

Both sides were guilty of misplaced passes as play became increasingly scrappy.

Dartford almost took a narrow lead into half-time when Bradbrook headed an Evans set-piece towards the top corner, but Garry Hunter made a crucial clearance on the goal line.

The second period was 25 minutes old before either side created a chance worthy of note. Bettinelli slid out but failed to gather a loose ball and Rowe had his powerful shot cleared off the line by Lee Burns.

With 17 minutes remaining, the game came to life. Rose tripped Harvey in the box and Baker stepped up to give Barrow the lead from the penalty spot.

Straight from the kick-off, Dartford attacked and Danny Harris looked to have been fouled in the area, but this time, Breakspear waved play on.

Erskine and Nathan Collier came off the bench to bolster the Darts attack but the home side created very little going forward and Hurst commanded his area whenever the ball was pumped into the box.

Bettinelli, Burns, Bonner, Arber, Rose, Hayes (Noble 68mins), Champion, Bradbrook, Evans (Collier 83mins), Harris, Prior (Erskine 63mins).Dartford:
908.Attendance:Subs not used: Wallis, Rogers.