BARROW were denied an historic victory as 10-man Leyton Orient pegged them back in a 1-1 draw.

The hosts had been in search of their first Football League victory since 1972.

But, despite leading on 16 minutes, the visitors having already been reduced to 10 men, they failed to capitalise and David Dunn had to settle for just a point.

His side had been given a huge helping hand with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

As the Bluebirds’ dangerous Luke James charged in on goal, Leyton Orient’s deepest defender, centre-back Daniel Happe, clumsily collided with the forward and sent him tumbling to the ground.

If Happe had been hoping for a show of leniency from referee Andy Haines he would be disappointed as he almost immediately learned his fate, the official having no hesitation in brandishing a red card and sending him on a long, lonely walk to the dressing room.

And although Barrow could not take immediate advantage, with visiting keeper Lawrence Vigouroux tipping Tom Beadling’s free kick over the bar, it only took them until 16 minutes had been played for them to edge ahead.

And it was a goal worth waiting for, a fine passing move that started with the advancing Yoan Zouma, making his first league start for the club, and culminated in a neat near-post finish by Josh Kay.

But anyone expecting that strike to spark a siege on Orient’s goal were mistaken as head coach Ross Embleton sacrificed James Dayton for Joe Widdowson, who slotted in to shore up the visitors’ defence.

There were blocked shots in quick succession from Chris Taylor and Patrick Brough, and Lewis Hardcastle’s effort from distance, which went narrowly wide of the far post, but they could perhaps have been disappointed not to have added to their lead in the first half.

Though the visitors had offered no threat to Joel Dixon’s goal - their best chance three minutes in saw Dixon get a firm hand to Danny Johnson’s shot - they made it to the break just one goal in arrears.

The visitors’ first-half resistance was made to look even more valuable as, just five minutes into the second half, they drew level.

The Bluebirds lost possession in the centre circle and Orient broke at speed, Craig Clay sending in Johnson who drilled his finish past Dixon’s outstretched hand.

Tempers threatened to flare just after the hour mark, when Johnson was sent over the advertising hoardings by Hardcastle, with the two players, plus Orient’s Ousseynou Cisse, shown yellow cards after the sides engaged in an extended bout of pushing and shoving.

Taylor almost restored Barrow’s lead with a little under 20 minutes to play, his shot on the turn being palmed away by Vigouroux.

Yellow cards became more prevalent than clear-cut goalscoring chances as a bad-tempered second half edged towards its conclusion, and once Kay headed a great close-range chance over in stoppage time Barrow knew they would have to settle for a share of the spoils.