Harrogate Town gained a morale boosting victory over Gateshead,in preparation for next week’s big kick off.
A good block by Warren Burrell prevented Gateshead from taking an early lead,while at the other end,it took two attempts by James Montgomery to keep out George Thomson’s shot.
Macauley Longstaff tested Town’s,James Belshaw, with a volley,but on seventeen minutes Town took the lead.
Thomson found Jordan Thewlis in space and he rifled a drive past Montgomery from just outside the area.
Ben Parker and Joe Leesley then combined well down the left to set uo Simon Ainge,but his first time effort flashed past the near post.
However,Town only had to wait a couple of minutes to stretch their lead,when Thewlis showed great awareness to intercept Fraser Horsfall’s back pass,round the keeper and slot into the empty net.
Town kept up their offensive and Ainge headed in a Leesley free kick,only to be denied by an offside flag.
As half time approached,Belshaw had to tip a well struck free kick from Longstaff over the bar.
The second half saw the usual plethora of substitutes take to the field and Gateshead began to turn on the pressure.
An O’Donnel free kick skimmed Belshaw’s crossbar,but a snap shot from the edge of the area by Thomson,after good work from Jack Emmett,gave Town a three nil lead.
Harrogate easily absorbed some late Gateshead attacks and look forward eagerly to next Saturday’s visit by Nuneaton.
Town scorers,Thewlis 17,21.Thomson 57. Att.284.
By John Harrison.
