Town resumed winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Stalybridge, in a hastily rearranged match at the CNG Stadium.
In a first half played to an accompaniment of thunder and lightning, Town struggled to make progress against a strong wind.
Celtic made the early running with Andy Owens heading wide and Dan Wilkins having a shot deflected for a corner.
A burst down the left from Town’s, Joe Leesley, ended with a shot at keeper Tony McMillan, but halfway through the half Celtic took the lead.
A deep cross from the left was returned across goal and Owens headed past Peter Crook from close range.
Aidan Chippendale’s first time shot from a cut back was scrambled away for a corner as Celtic tried to double their advantage.
In the final minute of the half, Chippendale’s long range free kick rebounded of Town’s crossbar, but Town broke clear and Dom Knowles just failed to turn in Joe Colbeck’s centre to the far post.
Andi Thanoj replaced Jack Emmett at the break and within minutes he ran on to a Knowles pass and hit a screamer past McMillan from twentyfive yards for the equaliser.
As the rain lashed down into the faces of the Celtic players, Jon Paul Pittman made it two with a low drive from the edge of the area.
The paltry crowd of 409 was sent into raptures when Dom Knowles received the ball to the left of the penalty area; he cut inside leaving a trail of defenders in his wake, before unleashing a rising drive past McMillan, which entered the net via the underside of the bar.
Celtic still had plenty of fight left and Adam Mather flicked Town’s crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area, while Thanoj headed off the line after Wilkins forced a corner.
This result puts Town into joint top position and sends them into Saturday’s cup tie at Bridlington Town in good heart.
Harrogate Town 3 Stalybridge Celtic 1 Att.409
Town
1 Crook, 2 Colbeck, 3 Turner, 4 Burrell, 5 Ainge (c), 6 Shiels, 7 Emmett (Thanoj 45), 8 Platt, 9 Pittman (Robertson 80), 10 Knpwles (Chilaka 78),11 Leesley.
Unused subs,12 Ellis,18 Stewart. Booking Shiels
Scorers,Thanoj 51,Pittman 55,Knowles 74. Man of Match Thanoj. Att.409
Report by John Harrison
Photography by Craig Hurle
