Harrogate Town 3 Stafford Rangers 2 Att 147
Harrogate almost squandered a 3 goal lead at a thinly populated Wetherby Road.
Town took the lead in the second minute when Gary King headed in Ciaran Toner’s free kick. Town could even afford skipper Steve Bowey missing a 26th minute penalty after Pell had been fouled by McAughtrie,as they dominated the match.
Goals from Lee Ellington and Andy Hutchinson gave Harrogate a three nil interval lead.
Town took their foot off the gas in the second half and Stafford almost snatched an unlikely point with a 59th minute goal from captain McAughtrie and a 90th minute strike from Jermaine Johnson.
The game ended on a controversial note when Stafford’s McAughtrie and Levi Reid were both dismissed in added time for second bookable offences.
