Harrogate Town started their pre-season friendlies with a 3-0 victory at Manse Lane, over a spirited, Knaresborough Town.
All Harrogate’s new signings were on show,with the exception of Wayne Brooksby.
The visitors were first to threaten with Luke Shiels pushing forward to head over the bar and then Chib Chilaka brought out an excellent close range save from Jack Rushworth in the home goal.
Knaresborough countered strongly and a flowing move involving several players ended with Brad Walker shooting narrowly over the bar.
On twentysix minutes minutes, Chilaka broke the deadlock when he forced home an Andi Thanoj corner from close range.
Knaresborough were defending in depth with plenty of men behind the ball and several powerful runs from Jack Emmett and Warren Burrell petered out tamely.
It was new signings, Joe Leesley and John Paul Pitman, who fashioned Harrogate’s next chance,when Pitman headed Leesley’s cross just wide of the near post.
Knaresborough,with Seb Carole showing some clever touches down the right flank,applied some late pressure but rarely threatened the Town goal.
Both sides made wholesale changes at the break, but it was Knaresborough who had the first chance, when Walker forced sub keeper Lloyd Allinson to turn his shot round the post.
On the hour, Lloyd Kerry was upended in the penalty area and Dominic Knowles made no mistake with his spot kick.
With six minutes left, Harrogate’s trialist from Alfreton, Jordan Robertson, broke through the middle to power home Town’s third.
Both clubs could be pleased with their nights work and treated the 200 plus crowd to a highly entertaining game.
Report by John Harrison
Photography by Craig Hurle
