Harrogate Town and league leaders AFC Telford United fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the CNG Stadium.
Town included new signing,central defender, Matt Heath in their starting line up,while loan signing,Jahmal Smith was given a place on the subs bench.
The home side roared straight into the attack and Steve Mallory soon tested Bucks keeper,Ryan Young,after he intercepted a Wes Baynes pass.
Cleveland Taylor and Mallory kept up the pressure with dangerous crosses,while Dave Merris and Liam Hardy both had shots blocked by the visiting defence.
Telford began to find their feet and Mike Phenix found Andy Owens in space on the left,but his shot past,Craig MacGillivray,flashed wide of the far post.
Dan Preston fouled Chris Hall,and from Taylor’s resulting free kick,Shane Killock headed over.
The game ebbed and flowed,and Owens again proved a threat for Telford,when his shot brought out a fine save from Craig MacGillivray.
To his evident surprise Taylor broke clean through the Bucks defence,but he skied well over the goal.
Young then blocked Adam Nowakowski’s header from Taylor’s free kick,but with the last action of the half,Town took the lead.
A Dwayne Samuels corner was only half cleared to Dave Merris on the edge of the area and he lashed in a low drive into the corner of the net.
Phenix opened the second half with a dangerous shot over the Town crossbar,before Mallory’s through ball sent Brown clear but he wasted the chance by sidefooting well over the bar.
On 64 minutes Smith replaced Hardy,while Telford brought on all three subs as they fought to get back into the game.
With fifteen minutes left,Telford levelled when Mike Grogan’s looping shot from Matty McGinn’s long throw sailed over MacGillivray.
Jahmal Smith got behind the Buck’s defence and his searching cross was steered just the wrong side of the post by Hall.
However,Town restored their lead with ten minutes left,when Mallory’s superb free kick was glanced in by Killock.
Unfortunately,within two minutes Telford equalised when Dan Preston knocked down McGinn’s cross into the path of sub Tony Gray and he sidefooted past MacGillivray.
Both sides had late chances to snatch victory.
Mike Heath conceded a free kick and earned himself a booking,but MacGillivray saved the day with a brilliant save from McGinn.
Smith had a great chance to score on his debut when Taylor’s through ball sent him clear,but Young was quickly off his line to smother his shot.
Town,
1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels, 3 Merris, 4 Brown, 5 Heath,6 Killock (c),7 Mallory, 8 Nowakowski, 9 Hall, 10 Hardy (Smith 64 mins), 11 Taylor.
Unused subs,12 Nelthorpe, 14 Metcalfe, 15 Bloomer, 16 Sellars.
Scorers, Merris 45, Killock 80. Booking Heath. Att.525
By John Harrison
