Josh Kay came off the bench to drive a winning goal three minutes from time as Barrow picked up a priceless three points on the road at Walsall on Friday night.
The substitute’s unerring finish settled a largely untidy affair at The Banks’s Stadium and was enough to secure a second successive victory to inject further confidence into The Bluebirds camp.
In a scrappy first half it was Barrow who settled first and Scott Quigley spurned an early chance when he got into a good position inside the area but couldn’t get the power on his shot to trouble keeper Liam Roberts.
The Bluebirds continued to look the more composed in possession as the opening period developed, though The Saddlers showed their threat when Tyreik Wright flashed a long-range drive wide of the upright.
Chances were at a premium for both sides but Tom Davies came as close as anyone during the first half when his looping header from a corner was pushed over the bar by Roberts.
There was a blow for Barrow just before the break when Brad Barry clashed headed with Walsall’s Mat Sadler and the Bluebirds man was forced off after a five-minute stoppage for treatment on the pitch.
Barrow began the second half on the front foot and could have stolen in front on 48 minutes when Eardley’s cross from the right wasn’t dealt with and Luke James was able to turn and fire on goal only to see his shot well blocked by Roberts.
Walsall came close when substitute Cameron Norman unloaded from long range and his well struck shot took a deflection on its way just wide of the post, with Joel Dixon scrambling.
The home side seemed to draw confidence from that moment and went on to enjoy their best spell of the game, Wright trying his luck from twenty yards with a strike which was comfortably fielded by Dixon.
Bobby Thomas, on in place of James Jones, caused some problems with a long throw on 84 minutes which dropped dangerously on the edge of the six-yard area but The Saddlers were just about able to clear.
With three minutes left The Bluebirds created a moment of class when a ball forward found Quigley who cleverly played it round the corner and perfectly into the run of Josh Kay and the substitute guided an unstoppable low finish into the bottom the bottom corner to give Barrow a precious lead.
Walsall tried to recover in the limited time remaining but The Bluebirds were rarely troubled and saw the game out to enjoy back-to-back wins in League Two.
Full Time: Walsall 0 Barrow 1
Walsall: Roberts, Melbourne, Sadler, Scarr (Norman 55), Kinsella, Gordon (Osei-Yaw 59), Bates, Perry, Osadebe (McDonald 59), White, Wright.
Subs not used: Rose, Lavery, Sinclair, Reid.
Booked: Osadebe, Sadler.
Barrow: Dixon, Barry (Eardley 44), J Jones (Thomas 68), Davies, Brough, Nlthe, C Taylor, J Taylor, Devitt (Banks 83), James (Kay 83), Quigley.
Subs not used: Lillis, Sea.
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors