A last gasp goal from sub,Jon Paul Pitman,rescued a point for Harrogate,at Bromsgrove Sporting Club,temporary home of Worcester City.
After even early exchanges,in which Town’s Joe Leelsley was prominent and City’s veteran striker,Lee Hughes,hit a cross shot straght at Peter Crook,Worcester took a twelfth minute lead.
There appeared little danger when Hughes broke down the left flank,but his centre struck Lewis Turner on the arm from close range and Referee Declan Bourne,had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Hughes took the penalty himself firing low past Crook’s left hand to put the Blues one up.
However,Town hit back strongly and within ten minutes had equalised.
City’s Andy Gallanagh fouled Jordan Robertson and keeper,Ethan Ross dropped Leesley’s free kick enabling,Luke Shiels to hook the ball into the net via a defender and the upright.Town,with Andi Thanoj outstanding in midfield and Simon Ainge solid in defence,began to take control.
Dom Knowles twice had shots blocked after Joe Colbeck caused problems in the home defence with some dangerous crosses and Robertson blazed well over after being sent clear by a brilliant Thanoj through ball.
Hardly had the second half begun when Town found themselves behind again when Hughes stooped low at the near post to head skipper,Graham Hutchinson’s centre past Crook.
The ball spent long periods in the air as both teams reverted to long ball tactics,no doubt felling the effects of the heat.
Chib Chilaka,Jon Paul Pitman and Jack Emmett replaced Robertson,Knowles and Colbeck as Town looked for a leveller,
but the City defence easily dealt with Town’s aerial assaults.
Indeed,it was Worceester who should have stretched their lead with five minutes left when,Ebby Nelson-Addy broke through Ben Parker’s tackle and raced clear to put sub,Colby Bishop,one on one with Crook,but the Town keeper produced a magnificent block to save the day.
As time petered out crosses from Emmett and Leesley were cleared and Lloyd Kerry’s shot from twenty yards flashed just past the upright.
With the game entering four minutes added time, Emmett was fouled on the right and Leesley’s deep cross to the far post was bundled in by Pitman,to the delight and relief of Town’s travelling fans.
Town
1 Crook 2 Turner, 3 Parker, 4 Thanoj, 5 Ainge, 6 Shiels, 7 Colbeck (Emmett 70), 8 Kerry, 9 Robertson (Chilaka 65), 10 Knowles (Pitman 70), 11 Leesley.
Unused subs, 16 Ellis,17 Burrell Bookings Turner, Ainge
Scorers Shiels 22,Pitman 90+1 Att.658
Report by John Harrison
Photography by Craig Hurle
