Harrogate Town 0 – Histon 0
A much changed Harrogate battled out an entertaining goalless draw with Histon.
Town, with débutantes Paul Bolland and Rob Youhill prominent, attacked from the off.
Using both flanks,Town forced Histon onto the defensive, with Paul Beesley turning Craig Radcliffe’s cross at visiting keeper Jorg Stadelmann and Radcliffe firing just over.
Paul Heckingbottom tested Stadelman with a free kick after James Stevenson had upended Richard Pell,then Alan White’s header flashed just wide from Radcliff’s corner.
It took almost twenty minutes before Histon mounted a serious raid and White had to make a superb tackle to deny Dan Holman.
Youhill and Radcliffe were supplying a stream of crosses into the Histon box and Bolland latched on to a poor clearance and almost beat Stadelmann with a 25yard lob which the keeper kept out with the aid of the post.
Town were given a scare after 30 minutes when Taafe beat Cook to a long clearance,found Holman whose shot was turned in by Omer Riza, only for Town to be rescued by the offside flag.
Town resumed their attacks with Jake Picton foraying forward but his centre evaded both Beesley and Jonny Allan.
Youhill and Allan then set up Beesley who was blocked by an last ditch interception from Histon Player Manager Dave Livermore.
The start of the second half saw Riza squander an excellent chance when he lobbed weakly at Cook after beating the offside trap.
The game became stretched as both sides looked for the breakthrough,with Holman going close for the visitors and Richard Pell volleying over for Town.
Simon Weaver introduced Lee Elam and Paul Brayson for Heckingbottom and Beesley,and Elam made a quick impression when he shot over from 25 yards.
Histon began to look dangerous but tended to over elaborate in front of goal, but it took a timely tackle by Town captain Mike Brough to keep out Dan Sparkes.
Paul Brayson then had two chances to win the game in stoppage time,firstly being denied by a brilliant diving save by Stadelmann, then shooting just over the bar with a last gasp free kick.
Town 1 Cook 2 Picton 3 Heckingbottom (Elam 59) 4 Brough (c) 5 Pell 6 White 7 Youhill 8 Bolland 9 Beesley ( Brayson 65) 10 Allan 11 Radcliffe
Subs unused 16 Wilson 17 Turl 19 Bloomer Booking Radcliffe
Attendance 393
