Town battle to victory at Bower Fold

In a game that was dominated by the hosts, Town managed to win and score a penalty in which was possibly their only effort on target throughout the game. The game was a very scrappy affair, with a referee that just wanted to get involved a bit too much handing out a few needless Yellow Cards, which was not making the locals too happy.

The game started with Stalybridge on top, as they dominated Town just couldnt really string 2 passes together, the hosts were closing down well and limiting any options. In the first few minutes Stalybridge won a free-kick around 25-yards out which was subsequently skied over the bar, this seemed to happen a lot during the game, as a full time club you really would expect them to work on free-kicks. A few minutes later Stalybridge hit the woodwork through Lloyd Ellams, he broke through the Harrogate Town back line and smashed his shot against the bar and Town player Craig James was relieved to be able to clear the follow-up.

A few moments later and town were under pressure again, as that man Ellam managed to get through the back-line again with real ease, he got the wrong side of James and Dootson rushed out to block the attempted shot. Town fans at this point were just waiting for Stalybridge to take the lead it seemed inevitable the way the game was going.

Again it was Stalybridge on 28 minutes, Dootson came to Towns rescue again pulling off the save of the match to deny Phil Marsh, who twisted in the box and fired powerfully but dootson reactions just kept it out of the net.

Harrogate Town then got their first chance of the game, coming on the 43rd minute! some good work down the left hand side from Shepherd set hardy chasing the ball down the line he caught it and picked out the perfect cross for Ciaran Toner, who made a lung-busting run from midfield, and he just headed wide of the goal. Town fans hoped this would be a sign of things to come in the 2nd half.

Half time arrived, I just sat there wondering how the score could still be goalless, Stalybridge had outplayed us through-out the first half but just couldnt finish the chances presented to them. From what i could see i just thought the midfield was too easy for stalybridge to get through, there wasnt enough aggression or closing down from Williams and Toner, to put the hosts under pressure, they had far too much time to think about where to play the ball.

The second half then got under way, it was town on the back foot again, they just couldnt get hold of the ball for more than 2 passes, Stalybridge were pressuring well but ultimately the passing from the lads was atrocious and Armstrong touch seemed a bit off today he was unable to hold the ball up front.

There was a number of free-kicks from the hosts that either went wide, skied over the bar or lacked power, there just seemed to be no-one in the stalybridge ranks that could strike a decent free-kick. They were still on top at this point and a corner whipped in from the right was defended well by Craig James, the ball then dropped to Elam, but Town defended superbly putting their bodies on the line to block the attempted shot, Jacklin in particular had an outstanding game, blocking everything and making some strong headers.

Then out of no where a long ball pumped up field caught out the Stalybridge back line and hardy was in behind them, he sped away from the back tracking defence and out came the Stalybridge keeper Jan Budtz who brought hardy down and it was a penalty to Town surely now they would, hit their first shot on target and get that hardly deserved goal. It was Armstrong who stepped up he looked very confident, only looking at the ball as he sent the keeper the wrong way and into the bottom left, perfectly into the side of the net. Well most Town fans couldnt believe it their first shot on target had produced a goal and we were ahead. Although you have to say the past 5-10 minutes we were getting a bit more possesion and you sensed maybe we'd get a chance.

Stalybridge were were really pressing for that equaliser, Stanford for Stalybridge who had just come on the pitch flashed a shot wide of Dootsons goal and Crowther again having another attempt just wide, this summed up Stalybridge's day really, they could'nt finish at all! There was a penalty shout turned down for the hosts in the dying stages, which their fans were not too happy about, one man behind the goal was going mental jumping up and down shouting penalty, but the referee disagreed with him and waved play on.

There it was 1-0 and the first win away from home for Harrogate Town in the 10/11 season. Not the most prettiest of victories but the way we defended that second half no-one could've said we didnt deserve it. Praise must go to Jacklin, James and Dootson who had a great game for the team. Lets hope we can continue with another win on saturday!!!

Harrogate Town: Craig Dootson, Dominic Roma, Liam Shepherd, Duncan Williams, Michael Jacklin, Craig James, James Naylor, Ciaran Toner, Graeme Armstrong (Matt Bloomer), Liam Hardy, Aiden Savory (Wayne Phillips)

Subs Unused: Richard Pell, Adam Nowakowski, Danny Wright
Att: 365

CMON YOU TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bank Holiday Monday Game

Stalybridge Celtic                  VS                             Harrogate Town

After only 1 day of rest since the thrashing we recieved from Boston, Town look to get their season back on track at Bower Fold today.

Stalybridge have had a very indifferent start to the season, after starting with 2 wins against Fleetwood and Reddtich respectively winning  the games 2-0 and 2-1. They are now however on a bit of a bad run, losing their last 3 games, a 5-2 loss to Hinckley United, a 4-1 loss to Vauxhall Motors and a 2-1 loss to Nuneaton Town.

Last year Town lost on both occasions to Stalybridge taking a thrashing on both occasions, i was at both games and we got no where near them let's hope this season will be different and we get stuck in from the off.

With Stalybridge letting in quite a few goals recently im sure Hardy and Armstrong will be wanting to get their names on the scoresheet, but it will all come down to whether the Town defence is upto the job today after getting beaten far too easily on saturday.

CMON YOU TOWN!!!!!!!!

Harrogate Town 3-6 Boston United

The title says it all really, Harrogate Town 3-6 Boston United, a scoreline that i think many fans thought they would never have to endure but today it was reality for the Town faithful.

The game actually kind of started well for Town, we had the most of the possession and we were really pressing Boston into their own half. Armstrong forced the Boston keeper into a decent save and forced a couple corners but were unable to find the breakthrough.

Then Boston came alive, sloppy defending from 2 corners in a row from Harrogate, the 1st corner a run from Pearson forced Dootson into a good save, then just seconds later another corner for Boston, the exact same run from Pearson as he escaped Nowakowski far too easily to power his header into the top corner to make it 1-0 to Boston. This was just the start of Bostons Dominance.

As 5 minutes later Boston went further ahead, a cross from the right from Semple, who was impressive throughout for the visitors, was headed powerfully into his own net by Richard Pell. Town fans were now starting to fear the worst, as Boston looked so much quicker than Town and just generally seemed to want the win much more than us.

A few minutes later again, down towns left hand side, Semple again managed to get the ball past Shepherd who was getting no help at all, crossed into the middle and guess what it was 3-0 to Boston, Towns defence split open once again.

On 23 minutes in was 4-0, a free-kick from Canoville towards the back post was headed back across goal and there was Yates to poke the ball into the net. A nightmare start for town fans who couldnt believe what was unfolding in front of them, with only a quarter of the game played we were 4-0 town, muttering around the town fans about players poor performances could be heard. Whilst the Boston fans just next me were chanting "lets get double figures". It was embarrassing as a Town fan to stand there and take this sort of performance.

Town managed to pull a goal back against the run of play a few minutes later, a run through the centre and a drive across goal from Armstrong led to a tap in for Liam Hardy. As a fan i could see no way back for us despite the Town players rushing the ball back to the centre circle.

My thoughts were correct as 2 minutes later Boston restored their 3 goal lead, good play from Davidson, he sent Bloomer 1 way and then the other before finally laying on a perfect pass for Spencer-Weir-Daley to smash into the net. I have to say as a Town fan Daley was outstanding through out the game, giving the Harrogate back-line no rest at all, his pace was extreme and he looked a different class throughout.

5 minutes later Town managed to grab a 2nd goal of the game, a corner whipped in found Armstrong who headered towards goal, the Boston keeper made a great save but was unable to keep out the rebound which was headed in by Nowakowski. A few claps from the Harrogate Town fans could be heard but most didnt see the point as they were being completely outclassed. The score now at 5-2 if your struggling to keep up.

A few minutes before half time and it was that man again, Semple cut in from the right ahnd side with ease, on his left foot he struck a cracking finish into the top left corner of the net from around 25 yards out, the best goal of the game, no doubt about that.

That summed up the half, and town fans were not happy, one man in particular was not happy and vented his frustration towards Town manager Simon Weaver, who has a lot of explaining to do after that abject first half display. The least Town fans hoped for was a spirited second half display to show that they do care about the team.

There was one substitution at half time, Shepherd who had been skinned far too often that first half was taken off to be replaced by Craig James, hopefully he could keep Semple Quiet.

It was Dootson however in action again, with the first shot of the half from daley saved well , who despite the score had a very good game during the 1st half preventing the scoreline from being even higher.

Town then seemed to take charge of the 2nd half a bit more, i think a mixture of Boston taking their foot of the gas, and Town getting stuck in a lot more and generally looking more up for it than the 1st half. Armstrong who i thought had a good game, kept in a seemlessly aimless ball and ran with real drive toward the Boston defence only to power his shot just wide of Mckeowns goal.

With 18 minutes remaining, Town managed to grab a 3rd goal of the game, which their second half performance throughly deserved a great run down the left from Phillips and a cross into the box was finished off by Liam Hardy who flicked a header into the bottom corner. The strikers and attacking players from Town really played quite well, Hardy and Armstrong up top putting themselves about well and looking dangerous, the 2 wingers Phillips and Naylor caused trouble, the debutant for Town Ciaran Toner must've wondered what kind of club he has walked into, he himself had a solid game not giving the ball away much really compared to the rest of the team, however it was ultimately the defence, Not Dootson which let Harrogate Town down as every attack from the visitors seemed to cause horrendous problems amongst the back four.

The game then slowly came to an end, Dootson having to make a few good saves and Mckeown for Boston also pulling off a couple of decent saves. That was the end of the very open game at the CNG stadium, Town fans were left devestated at their teams inability to defend against the pace of the Boston forward line. A few fans shouted for Weavers head at the end of the game showing the Town fans really want this team to get back to the good old day's where we are challenging for promotion, but on recent form we are a long way off.

A very Down-hearted Lee stacey reporting on the game today.

Boston United come to Town

Harrogate Town                                   VS                         Boston United

Boston United make the trip to the CNG Stadium this saturday, they have won 3 and lost 1 so far this season, they beat Hinckley 9-0 just last saturday but lost midweek. Hopefully this will give Town a chance to get one over one of the divisions favourites this year.

They visited the CNG there once and only time in 2007, town going away that day as 3-2 winners. It is thought Ciaran Toner should make his debut for Harrogate Town today with a few injuries around the squad. Martin Foster could return but Steve Bowey, Lee Ellington and Paul Talbot are all still out.

Town will look to get there season back on track today with a win.

CMON YOU TOWN!!!!!!

Town sign Ciaran Toner !!!!

Harrogate Town have made the acquisition of Ciaran Toner who Town may feel is a bit of a coup, as he is dropping down from league 1 to play for the mighty Town.

With a lot of injuries in the side Simon Weaver obviously thought we needed cover but i think he is a bit more that cover, we have been struggling in centre midfield very badly the last few games although winning even that game i thought we were very poor in the centre of the park often giving the ball away far too easily.

Ciaran a former Northern Ireland international who played 13 times in Rochdales promotion season, comes into the squad in time to face Boston United who make the visit to the CNG Stadium on saturday afternoon.

Welcome Ciaran and lets hope you bring that bit of quality to the centre of the park !!!

Harrogate Town lose out at Borough Park

As i am unable to attend most away games, i am not really able to say much apart from what i hear or see around the internet and radio.

Town lost out at Workington 2-1, a goal from Grameme armstrong seperated the two goals from Workington, it sounds as though Town started the game very brightly and looked very much on the front foot, but thats seemed to change as on 18 minutes Workington took the lead as Jonny Wright scored the goal.

A few minutes later however town were right back in it, a goal from Graeme Armstrong finished extremely well inside the area. Manager Simon Weaver said he really thought we could push on from this and take real asendancy.

That plan however went out of the window as just before half-time a free-kick was given away by Harrogate Town and Gari Rowntree ended up in the back of the net. Town were unable to turn the defecit round in the 2nd half and went home feeling frustrated that two defensive issues cost them the game.

Town will try and get back on track on saturday as Boston United visit the CNG Stadium after losing midweek ;) CMON YOU TOWN!!!!!!!

Harrogate Town: Craig Dootson, Dominic Roma (Michael Jacklin), Liam Shepherd, Adam Nowakowski, Richard Pell, Matt Bloomer, Danny Wright (Aiden Savory), Duncan Williams (Craig James), Graeme Armstrong, Liam Hardy, Wayne Phillips

Sub Unused: Jordan Myers

Att: 610

        Workington                                                          Vs                                    Harrogate Town       

                            

Harrogate Town make the trip across to Borough Park, for a game against workington, this tuesday evening hoping for a 2nd win in succession to really get the season flying.

Workington have won all 3 games this season so far compared to a relatively new Harrogate Town team winning 1, drawing 1 and losing 1.

Last season Harrogate Town managed to get a draw at Borough Park thanks to Brian Dutton levelling the game at 1-1 after 70 minutes. In the reverse fixture at the CNG however town lost 2-1 after Tom Cahill had given them an early lead from the penalty spot.

Lets hope town can push on from last weeks win and inflict a first defeat on Workington.

CMON YOU TOWN!!!!!!!!!