Barrow 0 Carlisle United 1: Matt Dennis was Carlisle United's hero as the Blues earned a crucial derby win against Barrow.
The striker fired the only goal in the 19th minute as Carlisle claimed their first win under Mark Hughes.
It cut the gap to survival to two points as the Blues gave their safety hopes a much-needed shot in the arm.
United had to work hard for the points as Barrow failed to take a number of chances, but the industry of Dennis and the recalled Cedwyn Scott in attack, plus Callum Guy's battling efforts in midfield, typified Carlisle's resolute showing.
It was a first win in seven for League Two's bottom side which put pressure on the sides directly above the Blues with 13 games to go - and the result was noisily acclaimed by 930 travelling fans.
United head coach Hughes made one change to the side that started against Gillingham on Saturday, with Cedwyn Scott coming into the XI.
United celebrate the goal by Dennis, right (Image: Richard Parkes)
He replaced Joe Bevan in the line-up, while fit-again Josh Vela returned from injury to join the substitutes, taking Aaron Hayden's place in the squad.
Barrow boss Whing made four changes from their 3-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra, handing starts to Emile Acquah, Tyler Smith, Kian Spence and Sam Foley at the expense of Aaron Pressley, Elliot Newby, Connor Mahoney and Theo Vassell, the latter out of the squad.
The game took time to settle with lots of aerial play in the opening stages.
Barrow's Emile Acquah forced the first chance, the striker shooting across goal as United struggled to deal with Ben Whitfield's cross.
Kyle Cameron then whipped a shot over the United bar, before Carlisle, having struggled to hold the ball up early on, broke through Archie Davies, whose cross was just out of the reach of Dennis and Scott.
Tyler Smith almost punished Cameron Harper but failed to trouble Gabe Breeze - and then United broke to score.
Terell Thomas, first, stepped out of defence before the ball was worked right to Davies, and after he fed it forward, flicked passes by Elliot Embleton and Scott saw Dennis running through, and he kept his composure to slot low past Farman.
Acquah wasted a half-chance in response, Kian Spence failed to trouble Gabe Breeze and then Acquah looked set to equalise but failed to direct his header as he rose to attack a Ben Jackson corner.
Jackson then blew another opportunity, sending a shot high over the Holker Street End roof as a free-kick broke his way.
Barrow ended the half aggrieved at ref Adam Herczeg after he failed to punish Dennis for an earlier challenge which saw Sam Foley needing his head bandaged after the Blues striker's arm connected.
Later challenges on MJ Williams and Ben Whitfield were deemed fair, to the home fans' anger.
Kian Spence goes close for Barrow (Image: Richard Parkes)
After the break, Spence met a Canavan cross but couldn't direct his header on target for the hosts, before Harris raced back to prevent Spence following up to finish a Barrow cross.
United looked for a second as a bright attack ended with Embleton sending an attempt over the bar, before Sam Lavelle was in the right place to block a Gotts shot at the other end.
Barrow threatened on the hour mark as Foley won the ball in midfield and saw his shot deflect wide, Hughes then making the night's first change as Stephen Wearne came on for Embleton.
The hosts increased their threat as Jackson tested Breeze, who later dived to parry a Tyler Smith shot. When Barrow got behind Lavelle again moments later, Acquah failed to finish convincingly as Breeze saved again.
Hughes then introduced Vela and Patching as Carlisle tried to see through the last 15 minutes, Pressley replacing Acquah up front for the hosts.
United denied the hosts further chances, Hughes sending on Jack Ellis and Bevan for the final minutes and Carlisle avoiding further scares to get a hugely important win in the bag against their county rivals.
Barrow: Farman, Cameron, Canavan, Foley, Jackson, Gotts, Williams, Spence (Newby 83), Whitfield, Smith, Acquah. Not used: Stanway, Barnes, Mahoney, Fletcher, Pressley.
Booked: Cameron, Canavan, Gotts.
United: Breeze, Davies, Harper, Thomas, Lavelle, Guy (Patching 77), Whelan (Vela 77), Embleton (Wearne 64), Harris (Ellis 89), Scott, Dennis (Bevan 89). Not used: Lewis, Hugill.
Goal: Dennis 19.
Booked: Dennis.
Ref: Adam Herczeg.
Crowd: 4,213 (930 United fans).
