Barrow slipped to a fourth successive defeat – the third in League Two – as they dropped out of the play-off positions.
A 50th minute goal from Jordan Bowery provided Mansfield with the only goal of the game to pocket the points.
The first-half was instantly forgettable as it was littered with fouls, careless passing and few moments of excitement in either penalty area.
The free-kick count had reached 29 by the end with 15 of the fouls committed by Barrow who seem to have gone off the boil, dropping from second in the table to ninth.
The goal that won it came early in the second-half when Bowery showed good poacher’s instincts when he reacted quickly to head home close-in after a corner had been headed against the bar by Ollie Hawkins.
Sam Foley and Harrison Neal both had shots from distance which never seriously concerned the Stags’ keeper Christy Pym.
Bowery was nearly in for a second after another effort came back off the bar but Barrow defender Patrick Brough was alert enough to make a scrambled clearance.
Stephen Quinn had the best chance to double the Stags lead but when he intercepted a pass to get in on goal he shot straight at home keeper Paul Farman.
Barrow were closest to a goal and a point in the closing stages as Josh Gordon saw a glancing header from Ben Whitfield’s cross drop just beyond the post while Pym produced his best stop to deny Billy Waters’ late effort.
