Barrow’s unbeaten start to the League Two season came to an end after they fell to a controversial 1-0 defeat against Sutton United at Gander Green Lane.

The Bluebirds recovered from a slow start and looked the likeliest to take all three points as the match reached its conclusion but a long ball from Sutton goalkeeper Jack Rose was finished off by substitute Tope Fadahunsi after Barrow stopper Paul Farnham appeared to mis-read the flight of the ball.

It looked as though Barrow’s substitute John Rooney had grabbed a last-gasp equaliser for Barrow after a free-kick from his own half found its way past goalkeeper Brad House, but after a lengthy discussion the goal was disallowed.

The result sees Barrow remain on six points having won their opening two matches against two of the League Two promotion favourites – Stockport and Bradford.

Manager Pete Wild made two changes to the team that started the impressive penalty shootout win over Championship side Blackpool in Tuesday’s first round of the Carabao Cup, with Tom White and Josh Kay making way for Harrison Neal and Billy Waters.

Farman played a key role in that victory and despite appearing to pick up an early knock against Sutton he produced two good saves inside the opening 15 minutes to prevent the hosts from taking the lead – firstly tipping over Joe Kizzi’s header from a Robert Milsom corner and then saving a shot from Josh Neufville with his legs.

Barrow were struggling to get going on an extremely hot day and Sutton went close again in the 19th minute when Harry Beautyman fired the ball into the side-netting, with the Gander Green Lane crowd prematurely celebrating what they thought was a goal.

Moments later, Barrow nearly took the lead against the run of play after Josh Gordon blocked the clearance of Rose, only for the goalkeeper to scramble back and knock it out for a corner.

Back down the other end, a Sutton corner just before the half-hour mark led to a scramble in the box that culminated in Farman blocking a shot with his chest and Tyrell Warren clearing the ball away.

Barrow’s first clear opportunity on goal came in the 37th minute as Sam Foley’s shot from range touched onto the post by Rose.

They called Rose into action again seven minutes after the restart when Waters’ effort was saved from close range and just before the hour mark Ben Whitfield’s attempt inside the box narrowly missed the top right corner.

Wild made three changes in the 73rd minute with Kay, John Rooney and White replacing Waters, Robbie Gotts and Neal.

Kay nearly made an immediate impact off the bench, but his shot went over the crossbar for a goal kick.

It was Sutton’s substitute, however, that had the crucial say in the 79th minute, with Fadahunsi capitalising on Farman’s mistake to slot home from Rose’s long ball.

Kay went close again in stoppage time with Brad House, who replaced Rose in the latter stages, tipping his effort round the post.

And the game ended in confusion when Rooney’s free-kick from around 65 yards found its way into the back of the net, only for it to be disallowed much to the bamboozlement of Barrow players and management.