Harrogate Town could not turn home advantage into goals and had to settle for a draw in their opening fixture at the CNG Stadium.
Town were quickly out of the blocks and it took the combined efforts of two Tamworth defenders to halt James Walshaw’s powerful run.
Ryan Kendall placed an header wide and a superb sidefooted cross by Lewis Turner was just out of Walshaw’s reach.
A quick throw in by Turner released Walshaw and keeper, James Belshaw, did well to turn his dipping shot round the post.
Tamworth eventually countered and Shane Killock made a vital header to clear Dan Sleath’s dangerous cross.
Town suffered a blow ten minutes before the break when Kendall collided with the keeper after he was played in by Lloyd Kerry and he had to be replaced by new signing Colin Larkin.
Tamworth started the second half with a flourish.Dave Hibbert’s powerful header found Lee Hildreth on the left and his cross made a chance for Brendon Daniels who blasted well wide.
Town, huffed and puffed but could not make the breakthrough.
Lamb’s skipper, Paul Green cleared a Walshaw header from Kerry’s corner off the line and the late introduction of subs Craig Nelthorpe and Louis Swain meant Tamworth had to face even more pressure.
Nelthorpe was inches too high with a thirty yard drive, while Belshaw kept out a Swain shot with his legs.
In the final minute Nelthorpe dispatched Swain down the left wing,he cut inside and his cross shot evaded Belshaw but just missed the far post,to leave Town bemoaning their luck.
Town
1 Barnes, 2 Turner, 3 Meynell,4 Lenighan 5 Killock (c), 6 McGurk 7 Kerry, 8 Nowakowski,
9 Kendall (Larkin 38,Swian 73), 10 Walshaw, 11 Dean ( Nelthorpe 78).
Unused subs 13 Crook,16 Bloomer Bookings nil M o M Kerry, Att 557.
By John Harrison
