Walsall went into the match on the back of a run of six draws in as many games and with hopes of finally returning to winning ways.
With points and goals becoming something of a premium, the Saddlers were in dire need of a return to form as their desire to reach the Play-Off's by the time the current campaign comes to an end.
The match got off to a frenetic start, with Brandon Comley seeing an effort on goal blocked by Barrow defender, George Ray just a minute into the contest before Barrow created their first chance of the afternoon too just two minutes later, as Jake Young raced into the box and fired goal-wards, forcing a good save from Walsall shot-stopper, Owen Evans.
There was a brief halt to proceedings just four minutes in, as Rory Feely required medical attention, but he was soon back on his feet allowing play to continue.
The game settled a little as it continued, with both teams seeing plenty of the ball, without creating much to trouble their opposition defences.
Nine minutes into the contest, Tom Knowles did manage to work a good cross into the box for Taylor Allen, but the midfielders headed effort was superbly tipped over the post by Barrow 'keeper, Paul Farman, though the linesman's flag was raised and any goal wouldn't have counted anyway.
Up at the other end, three minutes later, Billy Waters found himself in shooting range, but the strikers shot from twenty-five yards out sailed well wide of Evans upright.
Walsall were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position in the eighteenth minute, from which Allen swung the ball onto the head of Manny Monthe, but the defenders shot sailed wide of the target.
The Saddlers won another free-kick moments later, which Allen again whipped into the area, with Donervon Daniels getting a head to it, but Farman was well placed to make the save.
With twenty-two minutes on the clock, Barrow found the breakthrough, as a Ben Whitfield shot was deflected into the path of Waters, who fired home from the centre of the area.
The visiting side looked to extend their lead as play continued, with Young firing an effort in from outside the area as we reached the half hour mark, but his right-footed shot sailed wide of the target.
With thirty-four minutes on the clock, Walsall opted to make their first changes of the afternoon, with Liam Kinsella and Oisin McEntee making way for Jacob Maddox and Robbie Willmott.
The visiting side almost doubled their advantage in the thirty-seventh minute, but Evans was alert to the danger as a cross came in from Patrick Brough, and did well to beat Young to the ball to deny them.
With thirty-nine minutes on the clock, Jake Young became the first player to see yellow, as he was cautioned following a foul on Maddox.
Barrow were again presented with a chance to extend their lead in the forty-fourth minute, as a Feely throw was flicked on for Waters, but the strikers shot on goal sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Two additional minutes were added to end the first-half, but there was little further action of note, and the sides headed off to enjoy their half-time refreshments with Barrow leading by one-goal-to-nil at the break.
Walsall opted to make two further changes to their line-up as the teams returned, with Matty Stevens and Taylor Allen sitting out the second-half, as Conor Wilkinson and Liam Gordon took their places.
Barrow began the second-half brightly, with Whitfield crossing the ball into the area for Sam McClelland, whose headed effort was cleared off the line by a well-placed Knowles, just one minute after the restart, moments before Waters also saw an effort from close range blocked by the Walsall defences.
The visiting side continued to press, winning a corner just two minutes into the half, which was swung into the area by Whitfield for Feely, whose headed shot collided with the upright before the danger was cleared.
The Saddlers were finally able to relieve the pressure, working the ball up to the other end, where Gordon crossed the ball into the area for Willmott, who failed to trouble the Barrow defences.
With fifty-four minutes on the clock, Walsall were forced to make their fifth and final change of the afternoon, as an injury to Robbie Willmott rendered him unable to continue, with Andy Williams being brought on in his place.
The Saddlers went close to restoring parity moments after the change was completed, but Knowles shot on goal was blocked, after some good play from Isaac Hutchinson to work the ball to him.
There was a brief halt to proceedings in the fifty-fifth minute, allowing Foley to receive treatment for a knock. He was soon back on his feet and able to continue, but not before his name was added to the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned after entering the field of play too soon.
The game settled a little as it continued, but Evans was called into action again in the sixty-first minute. The 'keeper doing well to prevent Whitfield nodding home a Brough cross at the back post.
Walsall were quick to work the ball up to the other end as they looked to get back onto level terms, with Hayden White crossing the ball into the box for Williams, who rose well to get a head to it, but Farman was well positioned to make the save.
Sixty-five minutes into the contest, Barrow opted to make their first substitutions of the afternoon, with Jake Young and Billy Waters making way for Tom White and Gerard Garner.
Moments later, it was determined that Rory Feely would be unable to continue, and a third change was completed, with Tyrell Warren taking his place.
The Saddlers continued to seek a route back into the game following the changes, with Knowles seeing an effort on goal denied in the sixty-ninth minute, before his side won a corner moments later, as Warren turned the ball behind, though nothing would come of the flag-kick.
Donervon Daniels became the third player to see yellow, as he was cautioned for a foul on Garner, seventy-two minutes into the contest, with the resulting free-kick being easily saved by Evans.
Walsall soon had the ball back at the other end, as they looked to secure at least a point from the contest, with a dangerous ball into the box evading everyone in the seventy-sixth minute, moments before White and Hutchinson combined to force Farman to make a save.
The hosts felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the seventy-ninth minute, as Wilkinson was felled inside the area, but the referee was unmoved by their appeals and allowed play to continue.
Nine minutes from time, Barrow chose to make their fourth change of the afternoon, as Ben Whitfield was replaced by Harrison Neal.
The game settled into something of a midfield battle as it continued, with neither side able to create much to trouble their opposition defences as Barrow looked to hold onto their slender lead.
Four additional minutes were added to end the game, as Walsall won a corner, but nothing would come of the flag-kick and a minute later, Jacob Maddox joined those already listed in the referee's notebook, as he was cautioned for a foul on Garner.
The Saddlers continued to push for a late equaliser, with the ball falling to Hutchinson moments before time was called, but Farman was alert to the danger and denied the striker with his feet. That would be the final action of note and the Saddlers run of draws came to an end as Barrow saw out the game to win by one-goal-to-nil.
| WATERS (22') | |
| AT | POUNDLAND BESCOT STADIUM |
| REFEREE | LEE SWABEY |