Danny Butterworth’s late strike saved some blushes for Swindon Town as they drew 1-1 against a Barrow side that played without a recognised goalkeeper for much of the match.

Ged Garner’s fabulous chip had Barrow in the lead at the break but a moment of madness from Paul Farman had the Bluebirds without a natural goalkeeper for 50 minutes.

Harry Smith’s own red card in the second half didn’t help their push for an equaliser but Butterworth’s late strike salvaged a draw.

The winless run to start the season has now reached seven games and five in the league, equalling their run of five without a win to start the 2010/11 season.

Mark Kennedy made three changes to the side that had been undone by David McGoldrick with Kabongo Tshimanga and Butterworth making their first league starts and Jake Cain shifting out to left wing-back. George Cox’s international clearance arrived in time for him to be involved for the first time along with Ryan Delaney.

In search of their first win, it was a start of intent from Swindon, with Will Wright whipping a free kick into the gloves of Farman within two minutes and then Jeff King picked out Smith with a deep cross that his sliding attempt poked wide.

On an increasingly blustery day in Cumbria, the Bluebirds were looking to work the elements with high balls up the middle for Garner to challenge for and get themselves quickly up the field. Once they got there, you could see the precision that had seen them win three of their first four, with a blind-side run from Neo Eccleston forcing a corner with Jake Cain scrambling back.

But Swindon were making good in-roads, especially down the right, with their possession play. The plan was very clear to try and use King’s quality to get the ball into Smith as quickly as they could. He put more crosses in after 15 minutes than he had in the other four league games combined.

They were the more patient side and probed well after ten minutes to allow Wright forward and he tossed in a deep cross. Smith won the header and as Ollie Clarke crashed into the area, he got a shot off that was blocked with it flying towards the net.

But the threat was always there for Barrow with the speed of their front three. Newby managed to catch Cain out as he darted in behind him and curled one towards the bottom corner once he reached the edge of the area. Bycroft was quickly across to push it away.

The endeavour and pace of Barrow was wearing Town down as the half went on. Newby was an eyebrow’s width from opening the scoring following a clever free-kick routine as Swindon’s composure on the ball was getting a thorough test.

In the 36th minute the transition speed struck for Barrow. Garner ran beyond and as Hall ushered him away from goal, he was able to swivel and chip the ball into the far corner of the net.

But the big turning point was to come. After 43rd minutes it was a mad moment as Farman’s touch was loose, setting Tshimanga onto him and the ‘keeper hacked the ball straight to Gavin Kilkenny. The midfielder chipped him but the ‘keeper handballed it to prevent the ball going in. Farman got his marching orders and Barrow didn’t have a spare one on the bench, so outfielder Rory Feely was sent on to stand in.

Barrow shifted to a back five for the second half as Town introduced Cox for his debut to get a left-footed threat down the left. Within two minutes the former Fortuna Sittard man had made himself known with a low cross that was awkwardly hooked off the bar by a nervous-looking Barrow defender.

Stephen Clemence’s instructions were clear as his team did not emerge from their defensive hollow unless the coast was absolutely clear. Any long ball was not chased as they stood there gesturing for Swindon to come at them.

As Swindon prepared to take a corner after 65 minutes they committed the cardinal sin. Smith got involved in a tussle and a push to the face saw him join Farman in the early bath.

Even before that Town were creating very little. A Wright cross that substitute Paul Glatzel flicked to the far corner was only the second shot Feely had been forced into.

The best chance they fashioned was a King cross that Cox managed to get on the end of in the middle, but he couldn’t divert it on target. Kennedy once said nothing on a football pitch is unforgivable, I think I might just have found something.

Butterworth with seconds remaining saved some of the blushes as he struck one from 30 yards into the bottom corner but this one will remain an embarrassment.

BAFC starting XI: Farman, Eccleston, Campbell, Canavan, Spence, Garner, Newby, Gotts, Kouyate, Jackson, Vassell.

BAFC substitutes: Worrall, Dallas, Foley, Telford, Feely, Tiensia.

STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Wright, Clarke, Smith, Cain, King, Kilkenny, Freckleton, Tshimanga, Butterworth, Hall.

STFC substitutes: Barden, Sobowale, Delaney, Ofoborh, Glatzel, Drinan, Cox.

Attendance: 3,763 (213 away).