A F C Telford United 3 Harrogate Town 0 Att 2176.
Telford cemented second place in Blue Square Bet North as Town were beaten 3-0 at the impressive New Bucks Head Stadium.
A late change to the team sheet saw Craig James replace the injured Adam Nowakowski and Lee Ellington replace James on the subs bench.
A swirling wind made it hard for both teams,but it was Town who made the better start.
Liam Hardy forced Stuart Whitehead to concede a corner,then saw his goal bound shot strike Sean Newton on the line.
The Bucks began to justify their high position and Mark Cook had to punch Newton’s free kick over the bar,then save a Jon Adam’s volley from Will Salmon’s long throw.
Town countered and a low Wayne Phillips cross was missed by Hardy, but reached Danny Wright ,whose shot was blocked by home keeper Ryan Young.
Town fell behind on the half hour when the unmarked Carl Rodgers headed in a Greg Mills flag kick from the edge of the area.
Harrogate were stung into immediate retaliation,with Phillips picking up the ball in midfield,advancing on goal, then unleashing a savage drive which slammed against the Telford crossbar.
Town were caught with a sucker punch two minutes after the break when half time sub Alex Meecham picked up Adam Proudlock’s pass and proceeded to curl a cross shot into the top corner.
On fifty-four minutes the Bucks made the game safe when Cook dropped Mills left wing corner under pressure and Phil Trainer bundled in from close range.
Town brought on Steve Bowey,Lee Ellington and Gary King in a bid to redress the balance,and neat passing between King and Bowey saw the latter shoot just over the bar.
Roared on by over two thousand vociferous fans Telford missed late chances with Trainer failing to capitalise on Jake Picton’s misplaced header and Rodgers heading Salmon’s centre just over.
Finally,Lee Ellington set up Ciaran Toner but he spurned the chance to give Town a late consolation by driving high over the bar.
John Harrison.
