Barrow’s promotion push has stalled after a third successive defeat – this time by 3-0 at Gillingham.
They are still in the play off positions, lying sixth with two games in hand of the two sides ahead of them, but there will be concerns about their current form.
Turning point of the game came on 23 minutes when Barrow had defender George Ray sent-off after being given a straight red card. He had been late with a challenge on substitute Josh Walker and the referee thought it bad enough to send him off.
It was goalless at the time and the deadlock wasn’t broken until the third of nine minutes added on when the Gills got themselves ahead.
Josh Andrews got through Barrow’s back-line, as they appealed for offside, to get on the end of a through ball from former Barrow full-back Remeao Hutton. There was still work to do but he was able to go round keeper Paul Farman and fire home.
Against the ten men Gillingham were able to step up the pressure and they doubled their lead on 55 minutes.
Conor Masterson’s ball into the box caused confusion in the Barrow defence and was eventually touched over his own line by Rory Feely.
Nine minutes later Conor Mahoney wrapped-up the points for the Gills when he skipped round Farman to knock in the third goal.
It’s probably two late now with just two games left to play but the win leaves Gillingham just two points off the play offs.
For Barrow, though, they have an early opportunity to make amends and halt the losing run but it’s a toughie. They travel to Crawley who are a place and two points behind them but surprisingly beaten at home by Colchester.
