A much changed Harrogate Town progressed into the second round of the F A Cup with 4-1 victory over North West Counties league, Skelmersdale United.
Hardly had the blast from Referee Rob Madley’s whistle died down than Town took the lead.
A cross from the right was driven against the upright by Mark Beck and from the rebound Calvin Miller found the net via the body of keeper,Ben Barnes.
The visitors almost hit back straight away when Mini Adegbenro broke away and drove into the side netting.
Although Town were in the ascendancy,their build up was pedestrian and the hard tackling,sometimes over physical
Skem, were making life difficult and neither side could land a telling blow.
But with the last action of the half,Town doubled their lead.
Town were awarded a free kick on the right and from Tom Walker’s delivery Beck placed a glancing header into the far corner of the net.
Skem made a spirited start to the second half with Danny Mitchley shooting past Joe Cracknell’s goal.
The Town defence,with Kevin Lokko prominent,held firm and Skem were reduced to shooting from distance. .Brendan Kiernan and George Thomson were brought on to replace Miller and Walker and six minutes later Town scored their third.
Thomson’s free kick from the right fell to Jake Lawlor and his low shot took a deflection past the helpless Barnes.
Harrogate’s fitness levels were now proving decisive and Skem soon conceded a fourth when Aaron Martin headed Josh Falkingham’s cross into the far corner.
In the last minute,Skelmersdale scored a well deserved consolation goal,with Mitchley stricking a superb left foot volley past Cracknell.
Town,
Cracknell,Burrell,Jones,Lawlor,Lokko,Walker(Thomson 64),Falkingham,Kirby,Miller(Kiernan 64),Beck,Muldoon(Martin 69).
Unused subs,Belshaw,Stead,Kerry,Hall.
Scorers,Miller(1),Beck(45),Lawlor(68),Martin(74).
Booked,Jones(17). Man of the Match,Falkingham.
Skelmersdale,
Barnes,Herbert,Preston,Murphy,Grogan,Peet(Webb(69),Grimshaw,Ellams,Mitchley,Griffiths,Adegbenro(Brodie 75).
Unused subs,Glennon,Croughan,Wainwright,Davies,Ellis.
Scorer,Mitchley,(89), Booked,Ellams(32),Grogan(90).
Referee,Robert Madley.
By John Harrison.
