Barrow lost in their final home game of the season as Southend United came from behind to win at The Progression Solicitors Stadium but were still relegated from the Football League.
Results elsewhere meant that The Shrimpers’ 2-1 win in Cumbria was not enough to save them as they produced a determined performance to complete a double over The Bluebirds.
Scott Quigley steered Rob Kelly’s men in front with a nice finish on 19 minutes but Southend were level ten minutes later through John White before Tyrell Egbri’s goal early in the second half proved the decisive moment.
It was a cagey start to the game as both sides struggled to settle into a rhythm in the early stages though Ricky Holmes did test Joel Dixon with a curling drive from the right corner of the box after a lovely turn from the Southend winger.
Luke James began to cause problems for the visitors when dropping deep to collect the ball and he managed to release Scott Quigley but the front man struck a left-footed shot too high to trouble keeper Mark Oxley.
At the other end, some determined defending from Tom Beadling ensured John White’s powerful shot from a corner was blocked away to safety as Phil Brown’s men pressed for an opener.
However, on 19 minutes Barrow stole in front. Another good piece of play from James saw him set Quigley away with an incisive pass and this time Quigley kept his cool to slot a clinical low finish past Oxley and make it 1-0.
The lead only lasted until the half hour mark though. Holmes sent a wicked free kick in to the Bluebirds area from the right and White arrived 12 yards from goal to smash a volley beyond Dixon and level things up.
Jamie Devitt skilfully slalomed between three Southend defenders to find some space on the edge of the box and slip a clever ball through to Quigley who rounded Oxley and fired home only for Barrow to be denied by the offside flag.
The Shrimpers began the second half on the front foot and came close to stealing in front for the first time when Tyler Cordner unloaded from long range, but his powerful shot picked up a deflection and flashed wide of the post.
However, they got their breakthrough on 52 minutes when Tyrell Egbri wriggled brilliantly through a couple of Barrow challenges to find enough space to shoot from 20 yards and his effort found a way past Joel Dixon to give United the lead.
Patrick Brough was introduced to the action and could have made an immediate impact when his drive was deflected just wide before Matt Platt got on the end of the resultant corner only to see his header well held by Oxley.
Ollie Banks then delivered a dangerous ball into the Southend box from the left which Platt battled for and was able to stab a shot on goal which was bravely blocked by Oxley who took a kick to the head for his efforts.
Greg Halford engineered a shooting opportunity for Southend on the right side of the box, but his low drive never really threatened as Dixon watched it into the side netting at his front post.
Some lovely football down the right opened Southend up, as Banks cleverly clipped a ball into the box for substitute Calvin Andrew who laid it back to the midfielder to shoot but his effort cleared the cross bar.
Full Time: Barrow 1 Southend United 2
Barrow: Dixon, Brown, Thomas, Platt, Ntlhe, J Taylor, Beadling (Banks 46), Devitt (Sea 68), Kay (Brough 54), James (C Taylor 80), Quigley (Andrew 68).
Subs not used: Moloney.
Booked: Kay, Thomas, Ntlhe, Andrew, Brown.
Southend United: Oxley, Bwomono, Hart, White, Holmes, Hackett-Fairchild (Goodship 65), Gabri, Cordner, Halford, Hobson, Taylor.
Subs not used: Seaden, Rush, Walsh, Olayinka, Kyprianou, Dieng.
Booked: Cordner.
Referee: Martin Coy
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors