Goals from Anthony Scully and Luca Hoole saw Shrewsbury pick up the first win of the Gavin Cowan era against Barrow.

The two Salop players netted after the interval to put Cowan's men into a strong position at the Croud Meadow.

Tyler Walker went on to pull one back for the visitors.

But it was Town's day with Salop going on to secure a huge three points.  

Team news:

Boss Cowan stuck with a 3-4-1-2 system for the visit of the Cumbrians.

It saw Matt Cox start in goal with Luca Hoole, Will Boyle and Josh Ruffels making up the back three.

Ismeal Kabia got the nod at right wing-back with Kev Berkoe making his first start for the club on the left.

Tom Sang and Taylor Perry sat in midfield with Anthony Scully more advanced in the number 10 role.

Iwan Morgan joined John Marquis up top.

Barrow also lined up in a 4-4-1-1 system with ex-Salop loanee Joe Anderson in defence. Danny Rose started as the lone centre-forward.

Report:

The game had a fast pace start with Shrewsbury having a lot of the ball.

However, the first attempt on goal came from a well worked counter-attack - with Barrow working the ball to Charlie McCann in the box.

He then saw a powerful drive beaten away by Matt Cox.

Shortly after, the visitors went close again when corner fell kindly for Rose.

Roughly 10 yards out, the forward produced a half-volley which cannoned against the bar before bouncing to safety.

Town grew in stature from that point.

In the 18th minute, Boyle saw a powerful header claimed by keeper Wyll Stanway following. long Morgan throw.

Then six minutes later, Salop went even closer when - following a goalmouth scramble - Morgan lashed the ball into the sidenetting.

The 38th minute saw Morgan go close again.

This time the Brentford loanee produced a sensational curling strike from 20 yards that looked goal-bound only to whistle inches past the post.

Shrewsbury scored the opening goal courtesy of Scully who tapped the ball past the keeper just one minute into the second-half following a free-kick sent in by Taylor Perry.

Salop swiftly doubled their lead following a long throw from Morgan which Josh Ruffels flicked into the path of Luca Hoole who slotted it past the keeper.

The 74th minute saw Barrow get one back, Tyler Walker chested down a cross well to volley past Cox.

There was nothing Cox could do about the goal.

But 60 seconds later, the keeper made an outstanding stop to keep his side ahead.

A dangerous cross was met by Charlie McCann’s just yards out. But at full-stretch, Cox managed to get down and spectacularly parry the ball away.

From that point the visitors tried to find a way back into the game.

But Town dealt with their threat relatively comfortably to claim a huge three points.

Teams:
Shrewsbury: Cox (GK), Kabia, Hoole, Boyle, Ruffles, Berkoe (Benning 72), Sang, Perry, Scully, Marquis (Lloyd 14), Morgan (McDermott 68).

Subs not used: Brook (GK), Anderson, Freeman, Ogunsuyi.

Barrow: Stanway (GK), Thompson (Harper 62), Raglan, Canavan, Anderson, Newby (Walker 62), Earing (Mahoney 62), McCann, Powell (Whitfield 46), Malcolm (Barkhuizen 46), Rose.

Subs not used: Jackson.

Attendance: 4,116 (84 away).