Harrogate Town 2 Gloucester City 0
10th September 2011
The CNG Stadium
Att: 329
Town, fielding new signings Liam Darville and Luke Ashworth, snatched a dramatic late win at the CNG Stadium.
After a slow start, Town began to take control.
Paul Brayson was pulled up for handball after Will Turl and Adam Nowakowski had combined to send him through and then Brayson’s glancing header hit the outside of the Gloucester post from Darville’s pass.
With defences well on top goalmouth incidents were scarce, but on the stroke of half time Steve Davies missed a great chance to give Gloucester the lead, when he headed over from close range.
The visitors made the better start to the second half, and once more Davies wasted a fine chance when he beat the offside flag, but shot over the bar.
Adam Mann then drove a cross shot narrowly wide of the far post as the Town defence hesitated.
Ross, Tait and Elam were introduced as Town tried to gain dominance and Elam’s fine run ended with the ball rebounding of the crossbar only for Brayson to hook over.
However, it was the decision to push Adam Nowakowski forward that paid late dividends.
Firstly, with four minutes left he headed Jake Picton’s clearance to Brayson, who set up Stephen Turnbull,and he shot past a hesitant Kevin Sawyer to make it one nil.
As the game entered it’s final minute, Nowakowski again found Brayson with a header and he beat Sawyer with a shot that crept in via the post.
The Town faithful went home happy after seeing the first victory since the 20th of August at Hinckley.
Match report by John Harrison
Harrogate Town 1 Elliot 2 Darville 3 Radcliffe 4 Nowakowski 5 Picton (c) 6 Ashworth 7 Bore (Elam 74) 8 Wilson (Tait 83) 9 Brayson 10 Turl (Ross 64 ) 11 Turnbull
Subs unused 17 Bloomer 18 Pell.
Booked: Nowakowski.
Click here for Simon Weaver’s post match reports from Radio York
Click here for match report from the Harrogate Advertiser
