Shawn McCoulsky ends goal drought as Harrogate edge out Barrow

Shawn McCoulsky’s first EFL goal since December 2017 gave Harrogate a 1-0 home win over Barrow, extending the Sulphurites’ unbeaten start to the Sky Bet League Two season to a fourth game.

The forward has spent the past three-and-a-half campaigns at non-League Maidenhead but his decisive first-half effort still ended a 53-game EFL drought, stretching over spells at Colchester, Forest Green, Southend and Newport, as well as the first three outings of his Harrogate career.

Simon Weaver’s men dominated the opening half and made the decisive breakthrough just before the half-hour mark after Stephen Duke-McKenna robbed Charlie Raglan of the ball close to the halfway line. The former QPR winger then raced down the left flank before releasing McCoulsky, who slid a low 15-yard shot past advancing goalkeeper Wyll Stanway.

Ellis Taylor almost added a second before the interval but his thunderous shot rattled the crossbar following more incisive play by Duke-McKenna.

The hosts also hit the frame of the goal early in the second period when Reece Smith charged onto a McCoulsky pass but hit the base of a post with only Stanway to beat.

Spurred on by the let-off, Barrow began to apply the pressure but Tyler Walker ballooned over with the home goal at his mercy and a fierce Rhys Healy drive was deflected narrowly wide, meaning the Bluebirds have now suffered four defeats from five contests in all competitions.