An excellent all round performance from Harrogate Town saw them come away from the Aggborough Stadium,Kidderminster, with a two nil win.
Unchanged Town were soon on the attack, with George Thomson intercepting a misplaced pass from Fraser Horsfall and finding Dom Knowles, whose shot was blocked by the home defence.
Joe Leesley was next into the act when his deflected free kick landed on top of the net.
The home crowd were beginning to rise to their feet as Elton Ngwatala’s thirty yard drive screamed towards Town’s goal,only to see it flash just past the upright.
However, on fifteen minutes it was the visitors who took the lead as Jonathan Flatt palmed a Marc Beck header into the path of Leesley who lashed the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.
The Harriers played some speedy approach play,but lacked a cutting edge and their efforts floundered on the excellent Town defence.
John McCombe and Liam Kitching were barring the way down the middle,while Louis Swaine and Warren Burrell were effectively policing the flanks.
A foul by Josh Falkingham on Joe Ironside,saw a Declan Weeks free kick tipped onto the bar by James Belshaw, and although Ironside headed in the rebound, the goal was chalked off by the assistant referee’s raised offside flag.
At times,a hard physical game threatened to boil over and referee, Amy Fearn, had her work cut out to keep control.
The second half was less than two minutes old when the unmarked Knowles, turned on athe proverbial sixpence and shot past Flatt into the corner to double Town’s score.
Town kept up the pressure with Jack Emmett waltzing through the home defence,but his low cross couldn’t find any takers.
The Harriers tried to go down the ariel route with the introduction of the tall,Dan Bradly and George Waring.
Bradley twice blazed wide when well placed,before sending a deep cross to the far post which Waring headed just wide.
It just remained for Belshaw to make a diving save from Sam Austin’s cross shot and the Harrier’s threat was over.
In fact, Town had late chances to extend their lead,with Emmett shooting wide from Liam Agnew’s pass and Jordan Thewlis having a late attempt blocked by Flatt.
So it’s on to Tuesday when,Alfreton Town are the visitors to the CNG Stadium.
Town
BelshawBurrell, Swain, Falkingham (c), Kitching, McCombe, Thomson(Agnew 74), Emmett,Beck, Knowles(Thewlis 71),Leesley.
Unused subs, Ainge, Cracknell, Middleton. Bookings, Burrell, Knowles, Leesley.
Scorers, Leesley 15, Knowles 47. Att.1739 (55 away).
Kidderminster
Flatt. Vaughan, Pearson, Croasdale(c), Horsfall, Austin, Weeks(Bradley 52), McQuilkin, Ironside(Waring 61),
Ngwatala, Sonupe(Brown 61).
Unused subs, Truslove,Palmer. Booking Vaughan.
Referee, Amy Fearn
By John Harrison.
