United fans were back at Holker Street for the first time in over 56 years on Saturday for what is loosely termed the Cumbrian Derby.
Manager Paul Simpson made three changes from his Tuesday night eleven who faced Newport with Rod McDonald, Mitch Roberts and Tobi Sho-Silva missing out at the expense of Jon Mellish, Jack Armer and Kristian Dennis.
Brennan Dickenson made his second start on his return from injury following the news that Jamie Devitt had been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a nasty hamstring strain.
Keeper Magnus Norman was suffering with a non-Covid related illness, so youth second year Gabe Breeze was included in the eighteen.
United showed first when Riley fed a throw up the right flank. Dennis touched it on, Patrick crossed, and Platt was there to clear. It went as far as Dennis and he opted for a volley from the edge of the box. He couldn't keep it down and it sailed over the bar.
The away side earned a corner when they worked their way up the left flank, with Mellish patient with the pass. Dennis made a deft touch with his back to goal, and the release allowed Patrick to step inside. He spotted Dickenson in space, but the 20-yarder took a deflection and spun past the upright.
Armer and Mellish exchanged quick, short passes as the away team dictated the pace, and there was suddenly space for Dennis to move towards. The through ball from Dickenson was overhit and Farman scooped it up.
Barrow showed on 12 minutes when Brough picked a great cross as he got forward to support the attack. Gordon met it at the near post but his header thundered past the nets and into the stands.
Captain Callum Guy failed to recover from a heavy challenge with White, and he had to leave the field with just 18 minutes gone, with Corey Whelan sent into the fold.
There was as scramble in the away box after what had been a stagnant spell when Gotts rolled it to Gordon. The forward turned on the spot, but his toe poke was blocked by Simeu.
A break from the black shirts on the half hour saw Dennis take control in midfield before spreading it to Armer. His cross caught on the wind and Farman went for safety first as he tipped it over the bar.
Carlisle took the lead with a real moment of quality on 32 minutes when a header forward was initially touched by Patrick. Jordan Gibson took over and he caught Farman on hisheels with a rocket of a shot from just outside the box. It smashed against the inside of the post and bulged the corner of the net.
Dickenson robbed Banks moments later as he tried to carry it away from the edge of the area, and Dennis was immediately on the sprint. The slide rule pass had just too much on it and Farman gathered before a touch could be made.
There was a real chance for the visitors to double the lead on 40 munutes when an overlap from Riley brought a half-clearance. Dickenson controlled on his chest, touched it through legs and then went for glory with a fizzed punt. Farman jumped to cover but it was always going high.
Barrow should have equalised just before the break when a Rooney free kick was nodded down by Amadi-Holloway. It somehow made its way through to Brough, and he had the goal at his mercy at very close range. Mark Howard was excellent as he spread himself to make a point-blank block.
The hosts came out of the blocks sharply at the start of the second period and a free kick from deep from Rooney found Platt on the move. His diving header hit the angle of post and bar, and the follow-up cross from Rooney was put behind by Feeney as Canavan challenged.
The strength of the wind made it difficult for Carlisle to clear their lines, and a wicked inswinging corner from Rooney almost found the net as it whipped towards the back stick. Howard was dumped to the floor as it came in and he was relieved to see it edge past the upright.
Another teaser from the left wing from Brough had Amadi-Holloway interested, but the forward misplaced his header as he glanced it from just six-yards out. Howard was set and happy to watch it go wide.
A run from Dickenson brought a cross that was diverted behind when he was found by Devine, and there was concern from Farman as the ball was floated back in from the clearance by Riley. He palmed it to the floor and recovered as Simeu made a challenge.
Patrick flicked a great throw from Riley into the area as Carlisle regained the upper hand, and Dennis was onto it in a flash, only to be closed down by Platt. A run of corners followed, but the Bluebirds kept things tight.
The biggest home league crowd since Boxing Day 1969 included 612 away fans, and it was the visiting contingent that was sent wild when Simeu played a lovely ball forward. Dennis was onto it quickly, and he clipped it beyond Farman as he advanced to try to close things down. The retreating defenders could only watch in horror as it bobbled over the line.
But Barrow were right back in it just three minutes later when a corner fell at the feet of Ollie Banks. He made no mistake with a rifled volley that found the top corner.
There was defending to do as the home team threw men forward, and Howard had to tip a grasscutting free kick from 30-yards from Banks wide, just to make sure, as it rattled low and hard.
A late free kick had to be dealt with, deep into time added on, but there was relief for the visitors as a later terrible set piece was sent high over the bar.
That allowed the away team to manage the game through and claim a massive three points.
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Goals
Barrow - Banks (78)
Carlisle United - Gibson (32), Dennis (75)
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Bookings
Barrow - Farman (65), Rooney (90)
Carlisle United - Mellish (47), Dennis (75), Dickenson (81)
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Teams
Barrow - Farman, Gotts, Platt, Canavan, Brough, Glennon (Stevens 72), Banks, White (Hutton 72), Rooney, Amadi-Holloway (Sea 76), Gordon. Subs - J Jones, Taylor, Wakeling.
Carlisle United - Howard, Riley, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer (Devine 59), Gibson, Guy (c) (Whelan 18), Dickenson, Patrick, Dennis. Subs - Breeze (gk), McDonald, Alessandra, Omotoye, Sho-Silva.
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Match officials
Referee - Robert Madley
Assistant Referee 1 - Johnathon Bickerdike
Assistant Referee 2 - Matthew Parry
Fourth Official - Andy Haines
Observer - Mick Brown
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Attendance - 4,658 (612)
