Harrogate Town’s thirteen match unbeaten home run ended when they went down 2-1 to Spennymoor Town.
Simon Weaver once again fielded an unchanged starting line up as they hoped to record their eighth consecutive victory at the CNG Stadium.
The first half was a cagey affair as both teams sounded each other out.
Town’s, Liam Kitching, was the first to threaten when he placed an header wide of Steve Lowson’s goal.
The “Moors” hit back and Kitching was soon called into action at the other end to head away Greg Rutherford’s attempt on goal.
Unfortunately for Town,as half time beckoned,they suffered a vital blow when Kitching was shown a straight red card for an high tackle on Robert Ramshaw,leaving Town a player short for the whole second half.
It took the visitors only nine minutes of the second half to make their numerical superiority count, when Curtis headed a corner high into the net.
Ryan Hall, then forced James Belshaw to make a diving save at his near post as he burst through the central Town defence,but it was only a stay of execution because Ryan Fallowfield’s slip allowed Johnson to race clear and slide the ball under the Town keeper.
Town introduced fresh legs in an attempt to get back into the game,with Jordan Thewlis replacing George Thomson and Dom Knowles making way for Jake Wright.
A late flourish from Town saw Lowson beat away Wright’s shot ,but soon afterwards a eightythird minute goal set up a grandstand finish.
Jack Emmett jinked through Spennymoor’s left defence and pulled the ball back for Mark Beck to fire past Lowson.
However, the all important equaliser was beyond Town’s reach and Spennymoor left the CNG having completed the double over the Wetherby Roaders, who will try again on Good Friday at Brackley.
Town
Belshaw,Burrell,Parker,Falkingham,Kitching,McCombe,Thomson(Thewlis 71),Emmett,Beck,Knowles(Wright 55),Leesley(Fallowfield 45).
Unused subs,Cracknell,Agnew. Sent off, Kitching 45. Booked Falkingham.
Scorer Beck 83.
Spennymoor Town
Lowson,Griffiths,Mason,Chandker,Tait,Curtis,Hall((Lowe 90),Ramshaw,Rutherford,Anderson(Henry 86),Johnson.
Unused subs,Porter,Fewster,Curry.
Goals,Curtis 54,Johnson 63. Booked,Chandler,Tait. Att.1001
Referee S Barrott
By John Harrison.
