Barrow 1
Sutton 0

John Rooney and Paul Farman were the heroes as Barrow beat Sutton United in dramatic circumstances to guarantee Sky Bet League Two football next season.

Rooney’s fifth goal of the campaign set up victory only for Josh Kay to collect a second booking of the game.

The 10-man squad then conceded a penalty when Connor Brown fouled Omar Bugiel but Farman reacted brilliantly to tip away Rob Milsom’s spot kick.

Manager Phil Brown was booked in the drama but there was still more controversy before the game ended as referee Ben Toner halted play after allegations of racism towards the Sutton players.

When it re-started, Barrow were under the cosh, including 10 minutes of injury time, but defended heroically to protect their advantage.

It was high drama but with a pitch invasion halting Oldham’s home game with Salford, Barrow left the pitch celebrating but not 100 per cent certain of staying up with three games to go.

The strong wind ensured attractive football was – for large parts of the first half – off the menu.

Sutton had first use in the opening half and quickly won the game’s opening corner. David Ajiboye’s blocked shot gave the Ganders Green Lane outfit a second set-piece opportunity.

They continued to dominate possession for the first 20 minutes without forcing a save from Paul Farman.

Eventually, a trademark right-wing surge from Remeao Hutton secured Barrow’s opening corner but Matt Platt’s looping header was easily claimed by Dean Bouzanis.

Some neat approaches, with Patrick Brough three times involved, and Kay brought another corner that Sutton defended competently.

Sutton should have grabbed a 27th-minute lead. Connor Brown believed Bouzanis’s booming clearance would run through to Farman. Instead, it dropped to Bugiel whose rash decision to try a first-time lob from the edge of the area provided a let-off for Barrow.

Kay’s foul on Ajiboye earned the midfielder a yellow card from referee Toner.

There was precious little excitement for the crowd to enjoy but a deflected Robbie Gotts’ low drive and subsequent corner raised a rare cheer.

Farman soon made the most of the gale and Barrow suddenly looked more potent. Rooney’s volley was headed away for a corner by Ben Goodliffe, the prelude to a major talking point – Rooney flighted the corner and the ball to the near post and in real time into the net. Replays, however, showed Bouzanis had done just enough to keep his goal intact.

But it wasBarrow looking most likely to make the breakthrough. Farman’s kick ran all the way through to unmarked Kay who, like Bugiel earlier, couldn’t convert.

A 61st-minute injury to target man Holloway saw the introduction of Josh Gordon.

Sutton, having soaked up the pressure, won a soft free kick for Platt’s foul on Ajiboye. Milsom shredded a few nerves with an in-swinging delivery that narrowly eluded the far post.

Then came Barrow’s goal. Hutton’s cross from the by-line was steered goalwards by Rooney but joy turned to anger when Kay was dismissed for something he said. Home rage increased when the official adjudged Brown’s foul on Bugiel to be a penalty.

Connor Brown was booked as was his boss before Farman dived superbly to turn aside Milsom’s spot kick.

The racism allegations could yet take the gloss of a famous win. But Barrow live to fight another day in the fourth tier.