Barrow picked up three precious points against League Two strugglers Scunthorpe – if only just.
It finished 1—0 to the Bluebirds but tock bottom Scunthorpe had played for 70 minutes with only 10 men.
For the second game in a row the hosts had a man sent off, while Barrow also had Tom Beadling red-carded at the start of time added on.
It didn’t matter how they won, just as long as they won to ends a barren spell without a victory.
John Rooney’s goal on the stroke of half time still separated the two sides at the final whistle.
The early shooting was wayward – Tyrese Sinclair cut inside for the hosts and shot over the bar and Robbie Gotts produced a similar finish for Barrow at the other end.
The crucial sending-off came on 22 minutes when Anthony Grant lunged in late on Josh Gordon and referee Tom Reeves produced a straight red card.
It was Gordon who almost gave Barrow the lead. His first effort was well-blocked by goalkeeper Watson and when he followed-up defender George Taft got back to clear off the line.
A corner from Anthony Glennon deceived Watson and went behind off the top of the bar but then the home keeper made a fine save to thwart Aaron Amadi-Holloway after clever play between Gotts and Ollie Banks.
Just when it looked like the Iron would get through to half-time without conceding, Barrow struck the all important goal.
Patrick Brough got to the byline and his low pull-back was expertly cushioned by Gordon into the path of Rooney who drilled this shot beyond Watson into the bottom corner.
On the resumption Rooney slipped-in Gotts but the shot on the run was blocked by the feet of Watson.
Beadling fired wide from a good position and Amadi-Holloway flashed an effort just the wrong side of the post.
Watson was the most over-worked player on the pitch as he continued to thwart Barrow’s best efforts.
In the final minute, Barrow were also reduced to ten when a late challenge from Beadling meant he saw yellow for a second timew and had to walk.
It gave Scunthorpe fresh hope and they forced a couple of corners late on, one of which was well collected by Paul Farman while the other was forced clear.
