BARROW AFC boss Pete Wild felt the Wrexham defeat was a “step too far” after his side’s fine unbeaten run in the league ended at 14 matches.

The Bluebirds kicked off 2024 with their first League Two defeat since the beginning of October at the Racecourse Ground.

Kian Spence got the visitors off to the perfect start as he fired them in front inside the first minute.

But big-money strikers Paul Mullin and Steven Fletcher, who completed a fine hat-trick in the second half, turned the game on its head with three goals in the final ten minutes before half time.

David Worrall, who was taken to hospital, and Luca Stephenson were both stretchered off for head injuries.

Defeat to their fellow promotion chasers left the Cumbrian club four points off the top three pace.

“We end up having a mad 10 minutes,” admitted Wild. “All three goals are avoidable. 

“Wrexham are in complete control after that. They have the ability with the players they’ve got to come out and control the football match in the second half. They’re ruthless with the ball.

“It was a game too far for the lads.

“We’ve worked ever so hard over the Christmas period. We’ve given everything we’ve got for the football club. Unfortunately it wasn’t our day.

“But I’ve said to the players, we’ve gone 14 unbeaten, we’ve been unbelievable, they’ve been unbelievable and they’ve given everything they’ve got for the football club. 

"It’s now time to go away for a couple of days, don’t think about football and get razor sharp to go again on Thursday.

“There have been so many good things on this run. It’s going to come to an end at some point. We’ve been taught a lesson in ruthlessness by Wrexham.

“We can still be proud of the effort and the determination which never lacks at the football club.”

It was a tough day at the office for the Barrow players, who saw two of their team-mates stretchered off with horror head injuries.

And Wild provided a post-game update on the duo.

He added: “David Worrall’s been taken to hospital. He was knocked clean out.

“He’s awake and his observations are okay which is good to hear. Hopefully everything will be okay with that.

“Luca was knocked out as well and he didn’t need to go to hospital.

“He’s quite dazed from the challenge, which is obviously a second yellow at the very least, if not a red. But enough about that.”

Wild gave the squad two days off ahead of hosting in-form Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

The Bluebirds will be kicking to get their first win of the year, and a first win in four, against a Rovers side who have won four on the spin over the festive break.