The Bluebirds completed a hat-trick of National League losses following an injury-time defeat to York, having only been beaten twice in their opening 24 fixtures.
Paul Cox’s men must now rediscover the resilience that typified the first half of their season to reinvigorate a play-off push that has not been derailed by the current blip.
While going down to bottom-of-the-table York might appear a significant psychological blow, the result must also be placed in context, with the improving hosts having won four of their past seven contests.
The opposition are also a much-changed outfit from the side that was put to the sword during a 2-0 September victory at Holker Street. National League novice Jackie McNamara has since been replaced as manager by the experienced Gary Mills and only four players from that previous meeting made the return match’s starting XI.
But, while York might be a different proposition these days with former Championship striker Jon Parkin a particularly formidable adversary, Barrow should still have performed better at both ends of the pitch.
Poorly-defended goals saw Amari Morgan-Smith – understood to be a Cox target before he joined the Minstermen – and ex-Bluebird Sean Newton get on the scoresheet, either side of Jordan Williams’s equaliser.
York set the early pace at Bootham Crescent with Jonathan Flatt required to make his first save from Parkin on 55 seconds after Alex Whittle had broken down the left flank.
Shaun Rooney also tested Flatt from 20 yards before a subdued Byron Harrison headed well off target from Nick Anderton’s left-wing cross.
The Minstermen then forged in front on 21 minutes as the visitors’ defence were opened up by a routine punt forward by former Blackpool keeper Kyle Letheren.
Parkin helped the ball on with his head and Morgan-Smith was more alert than the Barrow defence as he beat Flatt to a 50-50 ball and prodded into the away net.
Moments later, Parkin muscled himself into a shooting position, but his eventual effort was deflected wide. The 35-year-old veteran also cleared the crossbar after running on to an intelligent free kick by former Norwich midfielder Simon Lappin.
Letheren’s only save of the first period, meanwhile, saw him comfortably gather Richie Bennett’s weak shot on the turn just past the half-hour mark.
The Bluebirds improved after the break with Harrison driving wide of the near post after being played through the right channel by Paul Turnbull.
Bennett also forced a save from his glancing header, but Flatt was still needed to make a flying stop from Parkin’s opportunist 30-yard half-volley.
On 68 minutes, meanwhile, Turnbull drilled across the face of goal and narrowly wide after threatening through the left channel and Williams then dragged wide from distance before claiming his sixth goal of the season.
After Letheren let a low ball slip through his fingers under pressure from Williams, the 24-year-old winger turned smartly and found the roof of an unguarded net from 15 yards.
York showed a determination that belied their league position, however, with Parkin smacking a post from 10 yards after left-wing back Whittle had reached the byline.
After Bennett missed the target with two headers, Flatt was then at full stretch when sub Vadaine Oliver rose high to meet Newton’s inswinging free kick on 89 minutes.
That warning was not heeded and, in the penultimate minute of the 95 signalled, Parkin occupied the attention of several away defenders from Oliver’s long throw, leaving Newton free to blast past an exposed Flatt from 12 yards.
York: Letheren; Parslow, Klukowski, Bencherif; Rooney (Holmes, 46, Fenwick 90+5), Heslop, Lappin (Oliver, 77), Newton, Whittle; Parkin, Morgan-Smith. Subs not used: Moke, ter Horst.
Barrow: Flatt; Beeley, Livesey, Diarra, Anderton; Hughes (Wright, 72), Harvey, Turnbull, Williams (Meikle, 90); Harrison, Bennett. Subs not used: Hannah, Rowe, Anderson.
Referee: Karl Evans
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