Barrow AFC 0 Harrogate Town 1: Jack Muldoon strikes again as history repeats itself

Jack Muldoon fires in Harrogate Town's late winner at Barrow. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

The Sulphurites' leading marksman came off the substitutes' bench to strike in the 84th minute of Tuesday night's League Two showdown at Holker Street, registering his 12th goal of the campaign in the process.

The victory was Simon Weaver's team's third on the bounce and the third that they have won 1-0 - the same scoreline by which they beat Barrow on home turf back in October.

And another three points lifts Town up to 11th place in the table, some 12 positions higher than the Bluebirds, whom they were promoted from the National League alongside at the end of last season.

Match-winner Jack Muldoon celebrates his goal with team-mate Dan Jones.

It was another of Harrogate's strikers - Josh March - who came closest to breaking the deadlock, closing down Barrow goalkeeper Joel Dixon's attempted clearance and seeing the ball bounce narrowly wide of the mark.

Bluebirds forward Scott Quigley then forced James Belshaw into a save with his feet at the other end of the field, before Town threatened through Josh McPake, who saw a swerving strike pushed to safety by Dixon.

March thought he should have had a penalty five minutes before the interval when he was brought down inside the box by James Jones, though referee Robert Lewis was not interested.

The second period began with Town stopper Belshaw again doing well to thwart Quigley, while March twice forced Dixon into action before being replaced by Muldoon.

And the 31-year-old's introduction would eventually prove decisive as he ran on to fellow substitute Josh Falkingham's through-ball, drove into the penalty area and then sent a calm finish into the bottom corner of the home goal.