Shrewsbury gained a point at Barrow following a goalless draw at a wind-swept Holker Street.

Town had the elements in their favour in the first half and put the hosts under relentless pressure.

Luca Hoole hit the post. Anthony Scully forced goalkeeper Wyll Standwell into a good save. And Taylor Perry went close.

But despite their dominance, they couldn't find a breakthrough.

After the interval, Michael Appleton's side dealt with the conditions much better than the hosts did in the first half.

And they had their moments again with substitute Tommy McDermott also hitting the post.

But they just couldn't find the goal they needed to secure what would have been a deserved victory.

Team news:

Boss Appleton opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation for the trip to Cumbria with Will Brook continuing in goal.

Luca Hoole, Sam Stubbs and Will Boyle got the nod at centre-back with Sam Clucas at left wing-back and Ismeal Kabia dropping deeper into the right wing-back role.

Harrison Biggins and Taylor Perry were the midfield two with Tom Sang and Anthony Scully both operating more advanced in a number 10 role.

Up front, John Marquis was the lone striker.

Barrow also lined up in a 3-4-2-1 system with Tom Berkhuizen and Isaac Fletcher the two 10s. Josh Gordon was the centre-forward.

Report:

At an incredibly blustery Holker Street, Town won the toss and made sure the hosts were forced to play against the wind in the first half.

And with those elements in their favour, it was Appleton's side who created the first chance of the game.

Initially, Clucas burst into the box and saw an effort blocked by a defender.

But the ball then fell for Scully who saw a clever strike with the outside of his boot beaten away by goalkeeper Wyll Stanway.

Town went even closer to the opener in the 17th minute.

First Kabia did well to beat his man and send in a low cross - which was only half cleared.

And Hoole latched onto it with the defender then curling a delicious strike against the post with his left-foot.

With the weather continuing to be in their favour, Salop continued to knock on the door.

And the home crowd had their hearts in their mouths when Marquis managed to block a clearance from Lewis Shipley only to see the ball cannon into the side-netting.

With the hosts unable to get out, Scully hit a rasping drive from 25 yards that Stanway did well to tip over the bar.

Perry then did well to win the ball in midfield before driving at goal and firing narrowly wide.

Despite all their dominance, though, Town couldn't find the breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes.

Town had the elements against them in the second half.

But they dealt with the conditions much better than the hosts - with Appleton's men continuing to carry a threat.

And they came close to opening the scoring when Sang capitalised on a mistake by Harper inside the Barrow box.

The midfielder then looked to curl a strike into the bottom corner only to see his effort brilliantly blocked by a defender.

Town made a double change with around 20 minutes remaining - Isaac England and Tommy McDermott replacing Biggins and Scully.

Then, with 10 to go, Chuks Aneke and George Lloyd replaced Marquis and Sang.

Salop went on to hit the post a few moments later.

McDermott got a second chance to fire at goal after his initial free-kick hit the wall.

And his effort hit a defender before clipping the outside the post and going wide.

Barrow had their first real chance in the 86th minute - Brook making an excellent save at the feet of Isaac Fletcher before Boyle hacked the ball off the line.

And that proved to be the last meaningful chance of the match - with both teams having to settle for a point.

Teams: 

Barrow: Stanway, Shipley, Williams, Raglan, Jackson, Newby (Whitfield 69), Fletcher, Earing (Booty 55), Mahoney (Walker 69), Gordon, Barkhuizen (Harper 44).

Subs not used: Winterbottom, Cameron, Whitfield.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Hoole, Stubbs, Boyle, Kabia, Biggins (England 72), Perry, Clucas, Scully (McDermott 72), Sang, Marquis.

Subs not used: Harrison, Benning, Lloyd, Aneke, Ihionvien.

Attendance: 3,047 (376 away).