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!!!!!!!!!!!!!