The Bluebirds hit the woodwork twice but were forced to settle for a point from a goalless draw against Harrogate Town at The Dunes Hotel Stadium on Saturday.
Robbie Gotts came within a whisker of winning it for Mark Cooper’s men but was twice frustrated by the post as Mark Cooper’s men looked the more likely winner during a hard-fought encounter.
Cooper was able to call upon Josh Gordon who came back in from the start after shaking off a calf injury, while Remeao Hutton was recalled on the right in place of the injured Connor Brown.
A flat first half played host to very few clearcut chances though it was the visitors who enjoyed the greater share of possession during the opening exchanges.
George Thomson almost escaped down the middle for Town after an incisive pass from Josh Falkingham, but Ollie Banks raced across to block the away side’s advances.
The Bluebirds had a half chance when Anthony Glennon’s searching corner from the right found Niall Canavan at the far post, but he could only divert a shot wide of the target.
Harrogate danger man Jack Diamond fired an effort over the bar after cutting inside from the right, but in truth it was a largely forgettable opening 45 minutes.
The second half began in equally competitive fashion, and it wasn’t until the closing 20 minutes when things began to open up and the likelihood of a winning goal increased.
John Rooney slammed a free kick into the wall from 25 yards after persuading skipper Ollie Banks to let him take the long-range set piece.
Minutes later, Robbie Gotts came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when he found space on the right side of the area and unleashed a powerful low drive which smashed into the base of the post and came out to safety.
Barrow had a taste for it now and just afterwards it was Rooney having a go from distance as his effort scraped the post on its way wide and then Patrick Brough’s long-range blockbuster was deflected past the upright as it fizzed towards the top corner.
Gotts then hit the woodwork again after he was slipped in by substitute Will Harris – under pressure, the midfielder tried to engineer a shot and the ball somehow looped up over keeper Mark Oxley who was beaten but saw the effort once again come back off the post.
There was another wonderful opportunity for Gotts to win it on 82 minutes when he took a superb first touch to get away clear down the middle but, as he cut back on to his right foot, the ball took a bobble and he fired over.
Full Time: Barrow 0 Harrogate Town 0
Barrow: Farman, Hutton, J Jones, Canavan, Brough, Glennon, White, Banks, Rooney, Gotts, Gordon.
Subs not used: Ntlhe, Platt, Taylor, Williams, Wakeling.
Booked: White
Harrogate Town: Oxley, Fallowfield, Page, Falkingham (Pattison 78), Smith, Burrell, Thomson, Sheron, Muldoon (Diarra 64), Diamond, Armstrong (Beck 74).
Subs not used: Cracknell, Legge, Richards.
Booked: Diamond.
Referee: Tom Nield
Attendance: 2,974 (91 Harrogate Town)