Harrogate Town crashed out of the F A Trophy at the first hurdle ,when they went down to Curzon Ashton at a wet and windy Wetherby Road.
Cecil Nyoni,Andy McWilliams and Matt Bloomer were recalled to the team,while Jordan Thewlis retained the number 9 shirt.
Curzon were quick out of the blocks and Bloomer was forced to concede a corner from which Daniel Shaw shot over the bar.
The only goal of the game arrived after ten minutes when Peter Crook made a superb block from Matt Warburton, but the rebound fell to Jordan Wright who slotted home from twenty yards.
Town’s long ball tactics were playing into the hands of the tall Curzon defenders, and it was the visitors who were creating the better chances.
Joe Guest shot just wide of the post,then shortly afterwards hit the side netting, after being played in by Niall Cummings.
Dave McGurk,who had replaced the injured Luke Shiels after fifteen minutes,almost scored for Town,when a Daniels free kick rebounded off his shins and trickled agonisingly wide of the upright.
A foul by Alex Brown,which earned him a booking,presented Daniels with a long range free kick which flashed narrowly wide.
Paul Clayton replaced Thewlis at the break and Town began to pose a threat in the air.
After Wright had driven into the side netting for Curzon,Knowles almost equalised when he collected a long clearance by Crook and outpaced the defence,only to shoot across goal.
Moments later, Crook fingertipped a thirtyfive yard drive from Cummings over the bar,but it was Town who began to dominate.
On the hour, Jack Emmett replaced Joe Colbeck and soon won a free kick which Knowles hit straight at Hakan Burton.
With twenty minutes left,another Emmett cross found Knowles in space but Burton blocked his shot from close range.
As the game entered five minutes added time, Nyoni created a chance for Emmett who shot past Burton only to see the ball stick in the goalmouth mud, allowing Jonathan Hunt to slide the ball for a corner.
Curzon had the last chance when sub,Stephen Everall raced clear but Crook pulled out an excellent save.
Town.
1 Crook, 2 Turner, 3 McWilliams,4 Nyoni, 5 Shiels (McGurk), 6 Bloomer, 7 Colbeck (Emmett 60), 8 Kerry, 9 Thewlis (Clayton 45), 10 Knowles, 11 Daniels.
Unused subs, 16 Cadman, 17 Stewart (Gkpr). Bookings Turner,Nyoni Att 237
By John Harrison
