Harrogate Town had to be content with a share of the points as they were held to a draw by fourth placed Tamworth.
Town were unchanged apart from Jack Emmett replacing the indisposed Joe Colbeck.
Town,with Emmett prominent on the right,made the early running and Curtis Strong’s foul on him saw Dom Knowles turn Brendan Daniels’s free kick just wide.
Emmett then played in Paul Clayton, but his shot was blocked and cleared only as far as Lewis Turner whose deflected effort was well saved by James Belshaw.
Tamworth, fought their way into the game with the dangerous,Elliott Durell, shooting at Peter Crook from thirty yards and then Dan Newton got into the act when he headed straight at the Town keeper.
The Lambs suffered a blow on the half hour as Ross Dyer collected a Durell pass and squared a tempting ball across Town’s goal line,unfortunately injuring his arm in the process and taking no further part in the match.
Along range drive from Connor Taylor was easily dealt with by Crook,while at the other end,Turner spurned a chance to give Town an interval lead when he headed a left wing cross directly at Belshaw.
Town opened the second half on the attack.
Cecil Nyoni headed a Daniels free kick over the top, before moments later, a wild Daniels shot sailed out of the ground.
A delightful chip into middle by Town’s “Man of the Match”,Paul Thirlwell created a chance for Knowles, but Belshaw quickly snuffed out the danger.
Tamworth began to apply pressure,but the twin barriers of Danny Ellis and Luke Shiels prevented the Lambs creating many clear cut chances.
Sub,Luke Hubbins set Newton free on the left but he could only drive his shot into the side netting,while Crook did well to save a curler from Taylor at the foot of the post.
The industrious Durell,then found the unmarked Hubbins with a cross, but Crook flung himself to his left to punch away the header.
Town, introduced Jordan Thewlis,Louis Swain and Lloyd Kerry and finished the match the stronger team.
With ten minutes left,Thewlis fired over the bar and soon afterwards Andy McWilliams overlapped down the left to find Kerry with a deep cross. Kerry’s centre deceived the furiously backpedalling Tamworth defence and bounced off the visitor’s crossbar.
As the game entered added time,Louis Swain almost snatched a late victory for Town when he cut in from the right wing and shot for the near corner,only to see Belshaw palm the ball away with a magnificent save.
Harrogate Town 0 Tamworth 0
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 McWilliams, 4 Thirlwell (c), 5 Shiels, 6 Ellis, 7 Emmett (Thewlis 63), 8 Nyoni, 9 Clayton (Kerry 80), 10 Knowles, 11 Daniels (Swain 63).
Unused subs,15 Bloomer,17 Cadman Booking Nyoni
Man of the Match Thirlwell Att 444.
By John Harrison
Photography by Craig Hurle
