MORECAMBE boss Derek Adams said his side had to work hard to beat 10 man Barrow at the Mazuma Stadium.
Carlos Mendes-Gomes was the match winner with his third goal of the season on 12 minutes after latching on to Adam Phillips’s through ball.
Barrow defender Sam Hird was sent off three minutes later for a handball but the sending off seemed to galvanise the visitors who provided stubborn resistance.
The Shrimps’ boss said: “We started the game very well, passed it well and opened them up a few times before we scored our first goal after a great ball from Adam Phillips found Carlos and he kept his cool to finish.
“When they had a man sent off a few minutes later we were thinking how many we could score as we were so much on top.
“But the sending off seemed to help Barrow. They changed their formation and kept a really good shape and made it hard for us. We didn’t move the ball quickly enough but did create a few openings.
“As the game went on they really came into it. They had nothing to lose and created some good opportunities and got themselves into some good positions.
“We had a few chances towards the end and should have scored more than we did. Our final pass wasn’t as good as it should have been but we kept them out and ended the game well and took a good three points.’'