Barrow 1
Northampton 3

A SIXTH defeat in nine games brought the curtain down on Barrow’s season – but despite their victory Northampton’s promotion bid still ended in failure.

Time will tell if Phil Brown fills the Holker Street hot seat next season but with his side 3-0 down inside 21 minutes, his job prospects didn’t look fantastic. Fortunately for him and his team that was as bad as it got, though AFC’s second season back in the Football League still ended in a third successive defeat.

Josh Kay’s 44th-minute header proved the only consolation but Josh Gordon hit the woodwork in the second half while the home side had a genuine penalty shout rejected.

Town, who seemed home and hosed after their turbo start, suffered utter dejection as Bristol Rovers hit seven goals against Scunthorpe to claim the third automatic promotion spot.

Barrow’s 1-0 win at Northampton on February 1 proved to be Brown’s predecessor, Mark Cooper’s penultimate win as AFC boss. Aaron Amadi-Holloway, who netted that vital goal, wasn’t part of Brown’s line-up due to ongoing injury issues.

Nor were top scorer Ollie Banks, Patrick Brough and Tom Beadling from the side beaten at Swindon a week earlier.

At least home fans could enjoy the game, safe in the knowledge their team would be playing in the fourth tier next season – a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sutton a fortnight earlier and Oldham’s defeat by Salford confirmed that position.

A minute’s silence was held prior to kick-off in memory of former Barrow striker Neil Campbell. The 45-year-old dad of one died after being taken ill in a Teesside restaurant.

Northampton’s promotion ambitions received the perfect start with Hoskins’ smart strike from the edge of the area – his 12th of the campaign.

But Barrow players were adamant Josh Eppiah’s fierce tackle on Remeao Hutton was a foul.

There were no complaints about the second after 14 minutes. Forced to concede a corner through Joe Grayson, Barrow’s defence was non-existent as centre half Fraser Horsfall climbed highest to convert Mitch Pinnock’s corner at the far post.

The Bluebirds tried to respond but Hutton’s left foot effort, while close, didn’t require a save from Liam Roberts.

And it was game over when Hoskins rolled in his second and his team’s third goal after 21 minute after Eppiah’s short-range pass across the area.

When Matt Platt did get a header on target from John Rooney’s corner, Roberts saved comfortably.

Joe Grayson’s last ditch, one-on-one tackle with Eppiah prevented more embarrassment before Brown completely lost his patience after miscommunication between keeper Farman and Platt.

Jordan Stevens was sacrificed in a tactical reshuffle with Anthony Glennon introduced after 31 minutes.

The move did fashion an improvement with Kay glancing in Rooney’s corner a minute before the break. His sixth goal of the season was quickly followed by an 11th yellow card for a foul on Horsfall.

The comeback could have gained even greater momentum but referee Ross Joyce adjudged Hoskins didn’t handle Glennon’s cross when most inside Holker Street were convinced otherwise.

And Barrow probably realised their luck was out when Gordon leaped superbly only for his header from Glennon’s corner to ping the crossbar. The same player’s follow-up header drifted wide.

There were no further goals in Furness but home supporters cheered as news filtered through of Bristol Rovers took their own tally to seven.

Farman denied Hoskins a hat-trick and the goal that would have put their fate back in Northampton’s hands.

And there was even more drama when Roberts handled outside his own area and was sent off.

Striker Danny Rose took over the gloves only for Rooney’s free kick to hit the wall. Hoskins went close again but couldn’t get the goal Town desperately needed.