Barrow’s charge up the League Two table was halted by unbeaten leaders Leyton Orient.
Although second best for much of the first half the Orient went in at the break having scored the only goal.
They were better in the second half and showed their class with a controlled approach which earned a second goal to clinch a 2-0 win.
A disappointing afternoon for Barrow was topped-off by having Josh Kay red-carded near the end.
It was the O’s ninth win in ten games and allowed them to open up a five point gap to the second with Barrow dropping to fourth.
It was billed as League Two’s match of the day between first and second but over the first 45 minutes it was Barrow who looked like the team sitting top.
Barrow had been rocked ten minutes before the break with the opening goal. Paul Smyth found the bottom corner with a cool finish from the edge of the area after he was in space to take Theo Archibald’s pass.
Barrow had their moments, particularly when Tyrell Warren’s almost caught out keeper Lawrence Vigouroux at his near post and Kay met Ben Whitfield’s cross but could not keep down a first-time shot.
George Moncur was nearest for Orient in the second half with a flying volley which was narrowly wide, and then Smyth was close to a second until Paul Farman pulled-off a good stop.
Harrison Neal had Barrow’s best efforts but put a glancing header just while while a fierce volley was held by Vigouroux.
There were 15 minutes left when Idris El Mizouni fired in a sweetly struck goal from
In the closing stages, with the game lost, Kay was shown a red card after an off-the-ball clash with Archibald.
