Barrow slipped closer to the National League after a 3-0 defeat at Cambridge, who could be heading in the opposite direction.
For while the Us are currently in the automatic promotion places ahead of the final game, the Bluebirds are rock bottom and facing a dogfight in their last fixture.
They entertain Newport County in the final game needing to win and dramatically improve their goal difference to overhaul Harrogate and Crawley.
Barrow were second best for most of the game and there was only going to be one winner after Cambridge took a 34th minute lead.
A cross from Dom Bell was headed back across goal by Liam Bennett for Ben Knight to drive home.
Knight should have doubled the lead before half-time and skied his effort on goal while on the resumption Barrow keeper Wyll Stanway made a big save to keep out Ja,mes Brophy after he latched onto a Knight pass.
It seemed inevitable that Cambridge would score again and it came on 57 minutes when James Gibbons hit a stunning strike from some way out to give Stanway no chance.
The Cambridge pressure was relentless and on 74 minutes a corner from Adam Mayor deceived Stanway who could only palm it into the net.
Barrow went back into the Football League after a 48 year absence in 2020 – and are in real danger of sliding back into the National League.
