Preston North End were beaten for the first time in pre-season at the SO Legal Stadium as Barrow won 1-0.
A strong North End side was fielded in wet and windy conditions in Cumbria, but David Worrall’s fifth-minute goal proved enough to earn victory for the hosts.
There weren’t any debuts handed to the three new arrivals of the week, as Will Keane was an unused substitute, and Duane Holmes and Mads Frøkjær-Jensen were not involved, as expected.
New man Calvin Ramsay was also in attendance on the first official day of his loan from Liverpool, however he didn’t see his new side get off to a good start.
The hosts went ahead inside just five minutes courtesy of Worrall, who was able to tap home a simple finish at the far past after the ball had been squared by Ged Garner.
North End were inches away from drawing level just a few minutes later through Brad Potts, but his header on the end of Robbie Brady’s cross fell just wide of goal.
The same pair linked up again on 21 minutes with Potts’ header this time falling to Ben Woodburn who struck goalwards first time, however Tyrell Warren made a vital block on the goal-line to maintain his side’s lead.
Barrow could have found their second of the game when Elliot Newby received the ball in space on the left side of the box and he fired it across the face of goal, narrowly missing Garner at the far post.
Home goalkeeper Paul Farman made two good stops shortly before the break, firstly keeping out Ben Woodburn’s close-range effort before a fantastic 25-yard free-kick from Brady was parried wide.
Freddie Woodman made a good stop himself in the 56th minute, denying Newby with a clever save down low to his left.
At the other end, North End were being restricted to efforts from distance, with Brady and Woodburn both trying their luck but striking off target.
Half-time substitute Mikey O’Neill had a good opportunity in the 79th minute to draw his side level after being found by Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile. The striker, however, dragged his effort wide of goal.
North End’s 16-year-old forward then nearly got on the scoresheet in the next attack, being sent through on goal and firing a shot just the wrong side of the post, and that proved to be the last chance of note as Barrow came out on top.
PNE line-up: Woodman; Diaby (Cunningham, 67), Bauer (Storey, 46), Slater (Best, 46); Potts (Mawene, 78), McCann, Ledson (Taylor, 67), Browne (Kamara, 78), Brady (Seary, 73); Nelson (O’Neill, 46), Woodburn (Rodriguez-Gentile, 78). Subs not used: Pradic, Keane.
Attendance: 2,026.