A powerful second half performance by Harrogate Town saw them coast to victory over Northern Counties East League,Worksop Town.
The match survived a pre match downpour of tropical intensity which tested the drainage system to the full.
Worksop,prompted by diminutive wingers, Jack Hawkins and Conor Sellars,played some attractive football but Harrogate began to create chances.
Luke Shiels made a brilliant defensive tackle to stop Ryan Kendall opening the scoring and Jack Barnett cleared a James Walshaw shot off the line.
Worksop were providing threats of their own with Reece Twell having a shot diverted over the bar by Shane Killock and Phil Barnes was called into action to parry a Josh Morrell piledriver.
It took until the fortieth minute for Harrogate to open the scoring when Luke Dean sidefooted a Walshaw pass past Ben Gathercole.
After the break Harrogate began to take control. Adam Nowakowski released Walshaw with an incisive through ball, but Craig Nelthorpe could only head his centre over the top.
Three goals in seven minutes sewed up the game for Harrogate. Walshaw scored his first when he picked up Lewis Turner’s quick throw, cut inside, and drove the ball into the far corner.
Louis Swain,who had replaced Kendall at half time scored with a low shot from the edge of the area and two minutes later the unmarked Walshaw headed home a Rhys Meynell cross.
To their credit Worksop rallied and Sellars tested sub keeper,Peter Crook from twenty yards.
With just two minutes left, defender Dave McGurk pushed forward to end proceedings when his downward header from Meynell’s corner made it five.
Harrogate Town 1 Barnes (Crook 70), 2 Turner, 3 Nelthorpe, 4Meynell (Metcalfe 70), 5 Killock,(c), 6 McGurk, 7 Lenighan, 8 Nowakowski, 9 Kendall (Swain 45), 10 Walshaw (Rowe 82), 11 Dean (Emmott 7o).
Scorers Walshaw 62,69. Dean 40, Swain 67, McGurk 88. Att 162
By John Harrison.
