Harrogate Town recorded their first double of the season,when they came from behind to defeat Aldershot at a rain drenched CNG Stadium.
It was the “Shots” who settled quicker and Josh Falkingham had to make a vital tackle to stop Gerry McDonagh, after he had been played in by Regan Booty.
Town eventually hit back when Joe Leesley’s shot from distance forced Will Mannion to save at the near post.
The Shots were playing a hard physical game with Falkingham singled out for rough treatment,especially from skipper, Jake Gallagher, conduct which eventually earned him a caution from referee, Simeon Lucas.
On fourteen minutes,Town slipped behind, after Donagh’s run into the area enabled him to find Luke Wanadio, whose cross was driven past James Belshaw by Adam McDonnell.
A foul on Dom Knowles saw George Thomson’s free kick turned for a corner by Mannion, but Liam Kitching’s header from the corner sailed over the bar.
The dangerous McDonagh,almost doubled the Shots lead when he broke down the right and tried to chip Belshaw, but the home keeper managed to fingertip the ball to safety.
Town managed to level matters just after the half hour,when Callum Howe headed Leesley’s free kick across goal and although Knowles saw his initial header blocked, Warren Burrell tapped in the rebound from close range.
Late on in the half, Town almost made it two after Falkingham’s shrewd pass found Thomson unmarked just outside the area,but his shot just shaved the upright.
The second half started in torrential rain,but it didn’t deter Aldershot sub, Matt McClure,who raced through and shot narrowly wide.
That was as good as it got for the visitors,because on fifty-four minutes Jack Emmett won a corner which Leesley crossed to the near post for Burrell to score with a brilliant glancing header.
Harrogate began to turn the screw and clever play between Thomson and Falkingham created a chance for Jack Muldoon but Mannion made an excellent block.
The Shots last serious chance fell to substitute, Josh Barratt, when a low cross found him unmarked at the far post,but he ballooned the ball into the hospital car park.
With twenty minutes left,Burrell completed his hat trick when he headed a Leesley free kick past Mannion for Town’s third goal.
However, Town still had one last shot in their locker,when in stoppage time, Muldoon latched on to a Belshaw clearance and calmly slotted the ball past Mannion to improve Town’s goal difference.
Town
Belshaw,Fallowfield,Falkingham,Howe,Burrell,Thomson,Emmett,(Woods 90),Knowles(Williams 73),Leesley,Muldoon,Kitching(Kerry 73).
Unused subs,Beck,Cracknell. Booked Emmett.
Scorers,Burrell 32,54,71 Muldoon 90. Man of the Match Burrell.
Aldershot Town,
Mannion.Kinsella,McDonnell(Osborne 76),Wanadio,Bernard,Lelan,Gallagher,Booty,McCoy(McClure 45),McDonagh,Grant(Barrett 59)
Booked Gallagher. Att.1362
Referee Simeon Lucas
By John Harrison.
@JohnHar59276371
