Harrogate started the Bank Holiday in fine style with a 3-1 victory over Nuneaton.
It took only eight minutes for Town’s first goal to arrive when Jon Paul Pittman headed in from close range, after visiting keeper Callum Burton had made a magnificent double save from Lloyd Kerry and Joe Leesley.
Lewis Turner then pushed forward to shoot over the top and Jack Emmett forced Burton to save at the foot of the post.
It was one way traffic as Nuneaton were pushed back and a second goal arrived after twentyeight minutes.
Kerry found Emmett near the right corner flag and he produced a measured cross for Leesley to head in.
Slowly, Nuneaton began to inch their way into the game and James Clifton ventured forward from full back to shoot past the far upright.
Next, Peter Crook was caught in no man’s land as he raced out of his goal,but Simon Ainge was on hand to head away Clifton’s cross.
Ex Town player, Joe Ironside spurned a chance for Nuneaton when he headed another cross from Clifton wide of the goal.
After the break, Harrogate were slowly out of the blocks and it was no surprise when Ironside rose above an hesitant Crook to pull a goal back on fiftyfive minutes.
Pittman then showed a clean pair of heels to the defence as he raced clear but shot across Nuneaton’s goal.
Jordan Robertson replaced Pittman with twenty minutes left and his first action was to shoot past Burton from the penalty spot, after an unnecessary push on Kerry by Sam Warburton.
Town weathered some late Nuneaton attacks and Kristian Scott fired over the bar, after sub Shaq McDonald squared across the penalty area.
So it’s on to FC Halifax on Monday for a,no doubt, stern test against fellow high flyers.
Harrogate Town 3 Nuneaton Town 1 Att.653
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 Parker, 4 Burrell, 5 Ainge (c), 6 Shiels( Thanoj 73), 7 Kerry, 8 Leesley, 9 Pittman (Robertson 69), 10 Platt, 11 Emmett (Colbeck 78).
Unused subs, 12 Chilaka,15 Ellis. Bookings nil
Scorers,Pittman 8,Leesley 28, Robertson 72 pen. Man of the Match Leesley Att.653
Report by John Harrison.
