Harrogate Town 3 – 1 FC United of Manchester

A bumper,four figure crowd,saw Town come from behind to defeat F C United,with a rousing performance at the CNG Stadium.
The match was preceded by a minutes silence in memory of Matt Gadsby,the Hinckley United player who tragically collapsed and died at Wetherby Road ten years ago.
Town made a bright start with Tom Platt forcing Jon Diba Musangu to turn his shot from thirty yards round the post.
Simon Ainge and Joe Leesley both threatened the visiting goal,but it was F C United who were first on the scoresheet.
As F C United pressed,Ainge was perfectly positioned to cut out Jason Gilchrist’s dangerous cross and Joe Colbeck conceded a corner as he dealt with a Tom Greaves centre.
From Gilchrist’s deep corner to the far post, the unmarked Luke Ashworth,squeezed an header between Peter Crook and the upright to open F C United’s account.
It took only four minutes for Town to level the scores.Colbeck’s pass found Jon Paul Pittman on the right and his low centre was swept majestically in by Platt.
In the minutes leading up to the break,both sides had chances.
For the Reds,Tom Eckersley’s shot on the turn went close,while for Town,Emmett failed to trouble Musangu with a shot from twenty yards,but a more powerful attempt from Pittman, brought out a full length save from the keeper.
Town started the second half with Colbeck finding Leesley with a superb cross field pass,Leesley made ground and flashed a shot across F C United’s goal.
After fiftyeight minutes Harrogate took the lead for the first time in the match.
Matthew Wolfenden’s strong run was halted on the edge of Town’s penalty area by a brilliant block from Andi Thanoj,who transferred the ball to Lewis Turner on the left wing.Turner’s cross from the touchline found Pittman in front of goal,but his initial header was well blocked by Musangu,only for Pittman to eagerly lash in the rebound.
F C United hit back strongly with sub,Dale Johnson hitting a shot on the turn over Town’s bar and George Thomson firing well wide after his initial free kick had rebounded of Town’s defensive wall.
But it was Town who began to take control and Ainge spurned a glorious chance to extend the lead when he headed over Leesley’s free kick from close range.
The advent of Chib Chilaka for Emmett gave Town more fire power,and he soon forced Musangu to save at the foot of the post as he cut in from the left.
Musangu earned himself the night’s only booking as he raced out of his goal to foul Chilaka out on the wing,but within seconds Town’s pressure paid off.
Tom Platt took advantage of some slack United defending to pick up a loose ball and streak through and drive past Musangu with a powerful left footed drive.
In the dying embers of the match,United sub,Kieran Glynn forced a diving save from Crook and goal scorer Ashworth made Town’s keeper tip his effort over the bar,but it was Town who ran out worthy winners.
Town,
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 Colbeck, 4 Thanoj, 5 Ainge (c), 6 Shiels, 7 Emmett ( Chilaka 81), 8 Platt, 9 Pittman, 10 Leesley, 11 Burrell.
Unused subs,
13 Stewart,14 Ellis, 15 Robertson, 16 Brooksby, Bookings nil
Scorers,Platt 20,88.Pittman 58 Man of the Match Platt. Att. 1094
By John Harrison.