An excellent crowd of 731, saw Harrogate Town run out 2-1 winners over newly relegated Hartlepool United, in Town’s first home pre-season friendly.
Town’s new look squad held their own against the National League side in a first half played mainly in midfield.
Josh Falkingham and Jack Emmett were providing pace in the middle, while behind them, Ryan Fallowfield, Warren Burrell and Ben Middleton were easily containing the Pools attack.
After the break,new keeper, James Belshaw, saved well with his feet to prevent Rhys Oats giving Pools the lead, after a rare mistake in the home defence.
On 68 minutes,a defence splitting pass from George Thomson released Fallowfield down the right wing and his low cross was turned in by sub,Dom Knowles, at the far post to break the deadlock.
Nine minutes later,Thomson’s savage drive made it two and Joe Leesley threatened to make it three with two well struck free kicks.
As the game entered the dying seconds,Nicky Deverdicks pulled one back for the visitors with a powerful free kick from the edge of the area which flashed past Belshaw via the post and crossbar.
Scorers,Town,Knowles 68,Thmson 77. Hartlepool,Deverdicks 90.
By John Harrison
