Harrogate Town moved into the 3rd Qualifying Round of the F A Cup, courtesy of three second half goals against North East Counties side, Penistone Church.
Town were unchanged from Tuesday evening’s victory at Southport,but it was Church who had the first attacks.
Town’s, Terry Kennedy,was on hand to head away an early Duncan Richards cross and Jordan Corduri shot at James Belshaw after picking up a weak Town clearance.
The rest of the half saw almost total Town dominance,interspersed with a few Penistone breakaways.
The visitor’s goal bore a charmed life as Harrogate,with David Morgan controlling midfield,attacked continuously and they were lucky not to concede when Jordan Thewlis stabbed a Jack Emmett cross wide,when it looked easier to score.
Josh Falkingham struck the bar from the edge of the area with Jake Greatorex well beaten,and George Thomson and Warren Burrell both blasted shots over the top.
However,Church had an excellent chance to take the lead when Kieran Ryan returned Scott Whittington’s free kick across goal,but tall skipper, Brett Lovell, headed narrowly over the bar.
The well organised Penistone defence was proving had to prise open as the first half ended with Joe Leesley crashing a free kick from twenty yards out against the crossbar.
The second period started with Thomson trying his luck from inside his own half but Greatorex had got back to cover, while at the other end,Nathan Keightley shot straight at Belshaw.
Town’s patience paid off,when they took the lead just before the hour.
Jack Emmett’s sliced shot from Leesley’s centre fell into the path of Kennedy who tapped in from close range.
With twenty minutes left,Emmett got the final touch to Falkingham’s well struck drive to rule out any chance of an upset.
Then,with fifteen minutes left,to the delight of the home fans,captain Ben Parker made it three when his shot from Ryan Fallowfield’s deep cross entered the net via Greatorex.
Town blocked two late efforts on the line to prevent the visitors gaining a consolation goal and the final whistle saw Town safely into Monday’s draw.
Town
Belshaw,Fallowfield,Parker (c) (Vann 76),Falkingham,Kennedy,Burrell,Thomson (Agnew 72),Emmett (Burdett 72),
Leesley,Thewlis,Morgan.
Unused subs,Cracknell,Middleton,Gooda,Day. Booking Kennedy Att.653
Scorers,Kennedy 58,Emmett 70,Parker 75. Manof the Match Morgan.
Penistone
Greatorex,Whittington (Barnett 80),Young (Russell 85),Ellis (Ring 80),Brennan,Lovell (c),Richards,Corduri,Keightley,Ryan,Beaumont.
Unused subs,Ambler,Birch. Bookings,Brennan,Richards.
