Barrow were looking for their fourth win in a row at Mansfield but came unstuck as they went down 1-0.
It means the Stags are the only EFL side unbeaten in all competitions and currently lie in the third automatic promotion place.
Barrow drop to 13th but there was plenty of encouragement from their performance in defeat, especially in the first-half.
Although Mansfield dominated the possession in those opening 45 minutes the better chances were created by Barrow.
Emile Acquah wasted the best of them when he fired over from eight yards after he was on the end of a good pullback from Gotts.
Even at the start of the second half the Bluebirds created another good opportunity but Rory Feeley put a free header over the bar from a Dean Campbell corner.
Up to that point Mansfield’s best effort came from Will Swan who got plenty of power behind his shot but saw it deflected over the bar.
When they did score after 72 minutes it was their first shot on target. Swan was involved with a surge down the left and the perfect low cross was met by Ollie Clarke who drilled his shot home from 20 yards.
Barrow’s hopes of a comeback were hit on 83 minutes when they had Junior Tiensia sent off for an awkward lunge on Aaron Lewis.
