Harrogate Town AFC have come away with a 4-nil away victory against AFC Telford United. (12 September 2015)
An unchanged Harrogate Town got back onto the victory trail with a comprehensive thumping of lowly AFC Telford United.
Telford had an early chance to take the lead when Izac Reid found Mark Lees on the left,but his centre was headed over the top by David Hibbert.
Within seconds, Town’s Dom Knowles, was one on one with keeper,James Montgomery who spread himself well to block the danger.
The “Buck’s” defence was finding life hard against Town’s speedy attack and on nine minutes Peter Crook’s throw out, dispatched Joe Colbeck down the right wing;he picked out Brendan Daniels lurking just outside the area and his left footed strike gave Montgomery no chance.
Curtis Tilt was booked for a foul on Colbeck,but partly redeemed himself when he ended a powerful run from Tom Platt with a fine tackle.
A series of brilliant saves by Montgomery from Colbeck and Daniels,deservedly earned him the “Man of the Match” award, while at the other end, Lucas Dawson forced a full length save from Crook in a rare Telford attack.
In a flurry of activity before the break,Dave McGurk was booked for a heavy challenge on Sean Clancy,but Reid blazed the resulting free kick over the bar.
An incisive ball inside the full back by Knowles, sent Colbeck clear and his searching cross was chested over the line by Daniels, to make it two nil for Town.
Town’s caused was strengthened when Dawson was shown a straight red card for a two footed tackle, but their numerical superiority was soon nullified when McGurk was given a second yellow for a foul on Danny Glover.
The game became more open and Telford tried hard to gain a foothold,but Lewis Turner,Luke Shiels,Cecil Nyoni and Andy McWilliams were in no mood to concede anything.
Indeed,it was Town who should have made it three when Colbeck was clean through,but once again Montgomery saved the day for the Bucks.
An accurate lob over the stranded Montgomery by Knowles saw Josh Brizzell race back to scramble the ball of the line, but
two late goals rubber stamped Town’s superiority.
Firstly,a strong run by Platt took him to the goal line, where he had time to pick out,Jordan Thewlis,who stroked the ball past Montgomery and just inside the far post.
To rub salt into Telford’s wounds,Town were awarded a late penalty when Graham Hutchinson flattened Platt and Knowles stepped up to get his name onto the scoresheet with a shot into the top corner.
Once again,Harrogate were cheered off the field by a large band of travelling supporters who made the long journey tro Shropshire.
AFC Telford United 0 Harrogate Town 4 Att.1173
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 McWilliams, 4 Platt, 5 Shiels, 6 McGurk (c), 7 Colbeck, 8 Nyoni, 9 Clayton (Thewlis 77), 10 Knowles, 11 Daniels ( Kerry 67).
Unused subs,14 Emmett, 15 Swain, 17 Bloomer. Sent off McGurk, Booked Daniels.
Scorers, Daniels 9,45. Thewlis 83, Knowles 87 pen. Att. 1173
Photography by Craig Hurle
Match Report by John Harrison
