EBBSFLEET know they must pick up points on their travels after crashing to their heaviest home defeat of the season at the hands of Barrow on Saturday.

The Fleet will have little time to ruminate over the consequences of the 4-1 defeat as they are in action at Kidderminster on Tuesday and then Wrexham on Saturday.

Ebbsfleet had been in fine form heading into this match having beaten fellow relegation rivals Gateshead and stunning promotion chasers York City.

In contrast, the Bluebirds had lost four consecutive games before making the long trip to Stonebridge Road.

Fleet started well with Magno Vieira worrying Barrow early on when he forced Tim Deasy to tip his effort wide for a corner.

Jordan Collins’ corner was saved by Deasy and Peter Holmes’ shot fizzed wide.

The game turned in Barrow’s favour after referee Nick Kinseley showed striker Nick Chadwick a yellow card.

This booking galvanised the former Everton forward and he put the visitors ahead when he converted James Walker’s cross after 26 minutes.

Ebbsfleet barely had time to draw breath when Chadwick doubled his haul with a stunning volley from inside the box.

The Fleet side hit back when Moses Ashikodi headed at Deasy after being set up by Vieira.

However, the Cumbrians could have increased their lead before half-time through Walker after he was released by man of the moment Chadwick, but luckily Cronin saved from point blank range to deny the visitors.

Barrow made sure of the three points after the restart when Chadwick completed his hat-trick by heading home from a Paul Rutherford cross.

An unmarked Ashikodi headed past Deasy to give Ebbsfleet a glimmer of hope.

However, Walker and Chadwick again combined to give the visitors a convincing victory.

Walker released his colleague with a pin-point pass but the ex-Chester striker’s effort was blocked by Leon Crooks’ arm, giving referee Kinseley no option but to award a penalty.

The forward beat Cronin from the spot to hand Ebbsfleet their heaviest home defeat of the season.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Pooley, Crooks, Charles, Collins (Ginty 71), Holmes, Bailey (Wills 87), Stavrinou (Welsh 58), Shakes, Vieira, Ashikodi. Subs not used: Salmon, West. Att: 1,146.