Harrogate Town 3 Gloucester City 0 Att 262
A Chib Chilaka hat trick helped Harrogate Town to extend their unbeated run to five.
It took only three minutes for Town to open their account when Chilaka brilliantly brought down a Wayne Phillips pass,turned the City defence,and blasted home past Kevin Sawyer.
Gloucester soon recovered and Tyler Weir glanced theTown post with a snap shot,Darren Edwards went narrowly wide and the unmarked Sam Malsom drove straight at Cook as the visitors continued to press.
Phillips, at last relieved the pressure with a tremendous cross shot which forced an excellent diving save from Sawyer.
However, after thirtyfive minutes,Chilaka made it two as he lobbed a bouncing ball over Sawyer,and shortly afterwards Craig James shook the City bar with a powerful free kick.
After the break,Town kept up the pressure with a Richard Marshall free kick skidding across the visitors goal,and Phillips had a goal bound shot diverted for a corner.
Chilaka,playing his final game for Town before being recalled from loan by Bradford City,made it three when he turned in a low Richard Marshall cross at the far post.
Gloucester battled to the end and nearly scored when an Edwards flick was turned on to the post by Cook and Darren Mullings had a late header tipped over the bar.
Territorially there was little to choose between the teams,but Town’s Chilaka made all the difference.
Tuesday night’s visit of promotion contenders AFC Telford United will provide Town’s new found confidence with a stern test.
John Harrison,
Harrogate Town.
