In Town’s first pre-season friendly, Town and a young Barnsley side battled out an entertaining draw on a day more suited to the beach than football.
Harrogate,fielding all their new signings,made the early running and Michael Woods almost gave them the lead after being played in by Tommy Wright.
Barnsley were looking good in attack and Craig MacGillivray had to tip a Rhys Oates flick over the bar after good approach work between Brad Abbott and McCauley Shillito.
Town’s new look defence,in which debutants Anton Brown and Leigh Franks,along with Shane Killock and Dave Merris excelled,reduced the visitors to shooting from long range.
After 25 minutes,Referee Martin Coy, wisely allowed a five minutes water break.
Town finished the half strongly with Adam Bolder volleying just wide and Craig Nelthorpe’s cross brought out a flying defensive header from Chris Salt to concede a corner from which the impressive Wright headed wide.
The second half brought the usual batch of substitutions and Ashley Metcalfe made an immediate impression when he rattled the Barnsley woodwork.
Ashley Worsfold got into the act when his goalbound shot was diverted for a corner and then he wrongfooted visiting keeper Christian Dibble, only to see his cross shot roll agonisingly wide.
New striker,Chris Hall,was proving an handfull,while Sam Jones made several powerful runs down the right flank.
As the game neared its end,it was Barnsley who made the stronger finish with Brad Abbott crashing a 30 yard drive against Town’s crossbar and sub Darren McKnight volleying wide from close range.
Simon Weaver appears to have made some excellent summer signings and the 284 crowd went home highly satisfied.
