Substitute Jordan Stevens scored a brilliant injury-time winner to avoid a lame-duck penalty shootout.
Barrow and Leicester City under-21s had played out a dull, uneventful Papa John’s Trophy tie without a goal when Stevens struck.
Picking up the ball 35 yards out he let fly with a thunderous strike which found the top corner and left the City keeper helpless.
If that hadn’t gone in the result would have been settled from the penalty spot – but with neither side able to progress in the competition.
Barrow boss Mark Cooper made ten changes to the side which had started and won at Banbury in the FA Cup – with only Remeao Hutton remaining.
But it was especially pleasing for Cooper to welcome back Mike Jones into midfield following several months on the sidelines with an achilles injury.
It was a dead rubber, with both sides certain to go out of the competition and it showed in a slow first half which was short of real goalmouth action.
Leicester did have the ball in the net on 19 minutes through Bayu Spencer-Adams but a late offside flag curtailed his celebrations.
At least Barrow did start the second half with a bit more intent and there was work for the Leicester keeper at last, but nothing that seriously stretched his capabilities.
Relief was late in coming but in the first minute of stoppage time, Stevens produced his splendid effort to win the game – the only real quality of the night.
Manager Mark Cooper said afterwards: “I said to him when he went on go and win us the game. I think it was the one bit of quality on the night.
“But really the object of the game was to get minutes into our players who are coming back from injury or have been short of game time through injuries.
“It was really good that Mike Jones spent an hour out there. I’ve always rated him as a player and if we can get similar game time into him next Tuesday at Burnley in a Lancashire Cup tie it will be great.
“The one real downside was an injury to George Williams. It looks as though he has broken his collarbone and might need an operation. He really is an unlucky player.”
