Barrow must continue to look anxiously over their shoulder following another home defeat.
Salford went away with all three points after a 2-0 victory which wasn’t really confirmed until added time when Barrow conceded an own goal.
The third successive home defeat for the Bluebirds came after Ash Hunter thumped the visitors in front from a free kick early in the second half and Remeao Hutton put through his own goal in stoppage time.
There was plenty of hard work from both sides in the first-half but little in the way of goalmouth incident to cheer the 3,510 crowd, which included 59 from Salford.
Hutton latched onto a half clearance and his shot on goal looked destined for the corner of the net when it was blocked by a Salford defender.
Salford’s best effort before the break came from Matt Smith but his header bounced over the bar.
It was Smith again, soon after the resumption, who had City’s best chance so far when he was invited to shoot in space from the edge of the box but he was too high.
Ollie Banks, mindful of his spectacular free kick in the FA Cup at Barnsley, let one go from 30 yards and City keeper Tom King had to go full length to palm it away.
It was a City free-kick on 60 minutes from 25 yards which produced the breakthrough. Hunter, who had scored Salford’s winner at Barrow last season, struck it cleanly and Paul Farman was beaten as it nestled in the bottom corner.
Farman then had to make a brilliant stop to prevent City from doubling their lead. A corner was worked to the edge of the area for Watson and his curling shot was spectacularly tipped over the bar by Farman.
It was Farman again to Barrow’s rescue in the 90th minute when he had to get across smartly to turn away a shot from substitute Stephen Kelly.
In injury time Conor McAleny got free down the right flank and a fiercely struck low cross was turned into his own net by Hutton.
