Jon Paul Pittman,Jack Emmett and Chib Chilaka,all made Town’s starting line up for the first time this season.
It was the visitors who made the early running at the Northolme ,as Pittman and Joe Leesley exchanged headers to release Chilaka who won an early corner.Luke Shiels pushed forward to head Leesley’s kick over the bar.
Town won a series of corners and free kicks as Trinity’s defence struggled to contain Town’s eager forwards.
It took only sixteen minutes for Harrogate to take the lead, when Emmett squared to Lloyd Kerry on the edge of the area and his strike from twenty yards out flew past Jonathan Hedge into the top corner.
It took an excellent tackle from Adam Scott to halt Emmett’s run just inside the box and it was twenty three minutes before Trinity threatened Town’s goal, when Scott’s long throw was cleared to Nathan Jarman who shot well over Crook’s bar.
Trinity,with ex Townie,Jordan Thewlis prominent,tried hard to get into the match.
Jarman fired a free kick from twenty yards out into Town’s defensive wall and Crook did well to keep out a wicked deflection at the foot of the far post.
Jarman chested a pass to send Gavin Rothery clear on the left,but Shiels cleared the danger with a diving header over his own bar.
However,it was Town who struck next when Kerry’s long clearance was picked up by Pittman who raced clear,held off a challenge by Ioan Evans and lashed a low drive between Jonathan Hedge and the upright.
Soon afterwards,Trinity were lucky to escape further punishment,when a mazy dribble from Chilaka, ended with him htting the outside of the post,before Emmett latched onto Kerry’s pass to send an inviting centre across the face of the goal with Pittman just unable to make contact.
Gainsborough started the second half with more purpose.Sub Alex Wiles shot across Town’s goal and Matt Thornhill found Jarman whose effort was deflected for a corner.
Ben Parker relieved the pressure with a strong run out of defence,but his shot didn’t have enough power to trouble Hedge.
The game became more open as Trinity pushed men forward,but Town were well in control.Kerry sidefooted over from the edge of the area after Emmett had been tackled and Warren Burrell made a chance for Kerry, who fired into the terracing behind the goal.
As Town wound the clock down,Trinity provided a late flourish.
Thewlis won a corner which Crook punched clear,but Jarman found the roof of the net with a spectacular bicycle kick.
With only two minutes left to play,Trinity’s,”Man of the Match”,Thewlis,looked odds on to score when he was left clear in Town’s area,but he unselfishly and unwisely squared to Jake Picton,who shot into the side netting.
This win pushed Town up to second in the table and they eagerly await Saturday’s trip to Bradford Park Avenue.
Town
1`Crook, 2 Turner, 3 Parker, 4 Burrell, 5 Ainge (c), 7 Kerry, 8 Leesley (Colbeck 71), 9 Chilaka, 10 Emmett, 11 Pittman ( Day 88).
Unused subs, 12 Ellis,14 Platt, 16 Gascoigne. Booking Kerry.
Scorers Kerry16,Pittman 39 Att. 396
Report by John Harrison
Photographs by Craig Hurle
