Town’s new pitch had to withstand a pre match deluge which created tricky conditions for both sides.
Avenue keeper Tim Deasy saved an early Chib Chilaka header with his legs as Town made the early running.
Although at the other end Martin Drury’s dangerous free kick was well cleared by Alan White.
On 16 minutes Town took the lead when Dave Merris’s powerful free kick struck Shane Killock and was deflected past Deasy.
Avenue retaliated strongly,with ex Town pair Danny Holland and Richard Marshall shooting over the bar.
With half an hour gone,there seemed little danger as Marshall picked up the ball in midfield,only for him to unleash a 35 yard thunderbolt into the top corner which gave Jose Veiga no chance.
The game was punctuated by a series of free kicks,as Referee Wootton didn’t seem to take the difficult conditions into account.
Town’s White headed at Deasy,while Avenue’s Holland headed wide from Drury’s cross.
After two Marshall attempts early in the second half, Harrogate began to take control.
Killock almost scored at the far post and Avenue skipper James Knowles earned himself a booking bringing down Chilaka.
From the resulting free kick Adam Bolder’s shot was diverted for a corner.
A superb saving tackle by Dwayne Samuels released Luke Dean who found Chilaka, but Deasy turned his rising drive over the bar.
Chilaka twice shot across the face of the goal as Town turned the screw,but in an Avenue breakaway Paul Walker turned the home defence to set up sub Rob O’Brien,who fortunately for Town shot well over.
As the game reached it’s climax,Tim Deasy once again rose to the occasion when he turned sub Lee Elam’s drive round the post.
Town
1 Veiga 2 Samuels 3 Merris 4 Bolder 5 White 6 Killock 7 Meechan (Elam 45) 8 Bolland (c) 9 Chilaka 10 Beesley (Youhill 45) 11 Dean
Unused subs
12 Stimpson 14 Bloomer 16 Garbutt Bookings Samuels , Bolder , Dean
Scorer Killock Town Man of the Match Luke Dean
Attendance 548
