United were victorious in their first home league fixture of the season following a first-half strike from Dan Adu-Adjei.
The attacker - on loan from Bournemouth - pounced on a defensive error to score what would prove to be the decisive goal.
United started strongly, winning a corner inside three minutes. Charlie Wyke managed to hold up the ball, before finding Josh Vela, whose deep cross to the far post forced the Barrow defender to turn behind.
The resulting set piece came to nothing, but the Blues continued to apply themselves positively in the minutes which followed.
On 17 minutes, the hosts had the next best chance on Paul Farman’s goal. Centre-back Terell Thomas intercepted brilliantly at the opposite end, before finding Archie Davies, who drove into space and delivered to Vela, prior to the midfielder lashing over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Elliot Newby came close to breaking the deadlock for Barrow following a cross from the right, but his header went over Harry Lewis’ goal.
As we approached the half-hour mark there were cries for handball from the home side after Dan Adu-Adjei hammered an attempt on goal following a scramble in the area - the referee ultimately awarded a corner.
Moments later, Aaron Hayden saw a header hit the side netting as Paul Simpson’s men kept pushing for the opener.
On 35 minutes, Adu-Adjei netted his first goal of the campaign. Theo Vassell’s lapse in judgement at the back allowed the young forward to steal the ball, prior to converting calmly beyond Farman into the far corner.
After the opener, United pushed for their second with Ben Barclay seeing an effort fly over as we entered the final five minutes of the first-half.
HALF-TIME: United 1-0 Barrow
The first five minutes of the second-half were cagey, with both sides looking to find the next goal.
Vela saw an effort hit into the floor, land in the arms of Farman in United’s only effort at the beginning of the second 45.
On 54 minutes, Emile Acquah leapt highest to win a header at the back post, but the attacker’s nodded attempt landed on top of United’s goal.
Midfielder Vela was involved once again midway through the second-half, this time drilling a low cross into the box, which Farman managed to collect.
Minutes later, skipper Charlie Wyke almost added number two after Ben Williams’ free-kick found him at the far post, but his effort went off target.
As we entered the final ten minutes, the Bluebirds’ midfielder Kian Spence took aim from distance, but his effort landed the wrong side of Lewis’ post.
Following their late push, Barrow thought they found the equaliser in the final seconds, after Andy Dallas bundled home from close range but it was chalked off after he was deemed to be offside - Brunton Park erupted like they had found the net themselves as that moment helped clinch all three points.
FULL-TIME: United 1-0 Barrow
Teams:
United - Lewis, Davies, Thomas (46’ Lavelle) Hayden, Wyke © (75’ Kelly), Adu-Adjei (83’ Butterworth), Vela, Neal, Williams (75’ Ellis), Mellish, Barclay
Unused subs - Breeze, Allan, Hetherington
Barrow - Farman, Eccleston (86’ Dallas), Campbell, Canavan ©, Spence, Newby (58’ Kouyate), Gotts (72’ Telford), Acquah (58’ Garner), Mahoney, Jackson, Vassell
Unused subs - Stanway, Foley, Tiensia
Goals:
United - (35' Adu-Adjei)
Barrow - N/A
Match officials:
Referee - Matthew Corlett
Assistant Referee - Paul Newhouse
Assistant Referee - Graeme Fyvie
Fourth Official - Ross Joyce
Attendance:
9,813 (885 away)
