It might have been two penalties but Barrow ended their goal drought and checked their slide down the table with a win over Swindon Town.
While Barrow ended a run of five consecutive games without a goal, Swindon’s ill discipline meant they had lost consecutive League Two games for the first time this season.
Two second-half penalties from Ollie Banks and Josh Gordon gave Barrow a vital, and deserved victory in difficult playing conditions.
Swindon had actually started well enough and had a chance in the 12th minute when Jack Payne’s free-kick was palmed away by Paul Farman but Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s poor touch let him down from the rebound.
Barrow, who would go on to be awarded two penalties, thought they should have had one earlier when Swindon captain Dion Conroy seemed to have tripped Robbie Gotts in the area.
Barrow slowly came into the game and Gotts fired over from just outside the box with the first real shooting opportunity.
Just before half-time Payne delivered a through ball for Tyreece Simpson to run onto but he fired into the side netting with Harry McKirdy screaming for the ball inside.
In a hectic finish to the half Ben Gladwin saw a long-range effort go wide; Jordan Stevens wasted a good opportunity when he was too slow in taking his shot and Farman made a good save to deny Kesler-Hayden.
Joe Grayson was the first to have a go for Barrow in the second-half but he poked a close-range effort wide of Jojo Wollacott’s left-hand post.
On 62 minutes Barrow finally ended their goal-less run. Kesler-Hayden was adjudged to have handled the ball to stop a cross from Gotts.
Former Swindon midfielder Banks made no mistake, driving the spot kick into the top corner while Wollacott dived the wrong way.
On 70 minutes the hard-working Gotts hit the post after a teasing dribble into the box and then Gordon was inches away from connecting with a fine cross from Grayson.
After 81 minutes Swindon had a strong claim for a penalty turned down and six minutes later a spot-kick was given, the second for Barrow.
Gladwin was adjudged to have fouled Patrick Brough inside the box and this time Gordon sent Wollacott the wrong way from the spot.
After the full-time whistle Swindon skipper Conroy was shown a red card for dissent by referee Ollie Yates and that just about summed-up Swindon’s afternoon.
