Harrogate Town went down to a goal on the stroke of half time, in a pulsating top of the table clash at leaders, Solihull Moors.
An unchanged Town had the better of the first half and Brendan Daniels had the opening chance when he shot over the bar after latching on to a Paul Clayton header.
Moors skipper, Theo Streete, found his way into the referee’s book when he brought down Andy McWilliams after he had been sent clear by Dave McGurk. Joe Colbeck took the resulting free kick which was headed just wide of the upright by Luke Shiels.
The uncompromising Moors defence conceded another free kick after a foul on Cecil Nyoni, but Danny Lewis easily saved from Daniels.
Moors proved that there is a reason why they are leaders with a late first half fightback.
A foul by McWilliams on Andy Brown presented Ryan Beswick with a free kick thirty yards out on the right which he curled narrowly wide of the far post.
Moors struck the decisive blow with seconds left in the half, when Peter Crook’s magnificent save from a Darryl Knights cross shot fell into the path of Adam Walker, who swept in from close range.
The second half opened with a series of Town corners, but Moors weathered the storm and replied vigorously.
The tall Liam Daly headed a long throw from Connor Franklin at Crook, before moments later,Lewis Turner was well positioned to clear another Daly header off the line.
Although Solihull were playing with more flair and growing confidence, Town were still looking for an equaliser.
Dominic Knowles had a shot blocked by two defenders after Clayton chested a clearance into his path, then Knowles himself, found the overlapping McWilliams on the left but Tom Platt’s rising drive from his centre flashed over the crossbar.
In a double substitution, Jordan Thewlis and Jack Emmett replaced Clayton and Colbeck with twenty-five minutes left, and soon a low cross from Emmett forced Streete to miskick inside the area but the defence scrambled the ball clear.
Good work from Thewlis and Emmett created a half chance for Daniels, however his shot was charged down by the solid Moors defence.
Although Town were unable to find a leveller,they can certainly take heart from the fact that they matched the league leaders until the final whistle.
Town
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 McWilliams, 4 Platt, 5 Shiels, 6 McGurk (c), 7 Colbeck (Emmett 64), 8 Nyoni, 9 Clayton (Thewlis 64), 10 Knowles, 11 Daniels.
Unused subs, 14 Swain, 15 Bloomer, 16 Kerry Bookings McWilliams,Nyoni
Att.806
By John Harrison
