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Match Reports

AFC Fylde 0 Town 0

27 August 2018

Harrogate Town ensured they remained unbeaten throughout their first month in The National League with a 0-0 draw at second place AFC Fylde.

Town went closest to scoring on the BT Sport debut with Dom Knowles almost beating Jay Lynch in the first half and Kelvin Langmead denied by the woodwork in the second.

The visitors also had James Belshaw to thank as the Town stopper made two fine saves to prevent the hosts scoring and keep Town firmly in the league's top seven.

Simon Weaver made one change from Saturday's 3-1 win over Solihull Moors with Lloyd Kerry making his first start of the season in place of the injured Jack Emmett.

It wasn't until the 18th minute that the first shot of the match arrived as Joe Cardle's corner fell to Ryan Croasdale just inside the Town area, but the Fylde midfielder volleyed over the bar.

Town responded with a shot of their own three minutes later as George Thomson tried his luck from 30 yards, but saw Jay Lynch claim his low strike.

Weaver's side almost broke the deadlock in the 38th minute as Joe Leesley's cross found its way to George Thomson at the far post though, after his initial effort was blocked, the winger's left footed strike narrowly missed the top corner.

Two minutes later Fylde saw an attempt cleared from the line after as corner fell to Danny Kane a few yards out, only for Warren Burrell to stick out a leg and prevent the hosts taking the lead.

The best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Dom Knowles with only three minutes of action remaining as the striker was picked out by Thomson, only for Jay Lynch to quickly close down his opponent and save.

After a fairly quiet first half, James Belshaw was called into action early in the second as the Town stopper kept out James Hardy's effort at full stretch.

The next chance fell the way of Town as Thomson's cross found Leesley at the back post, but the winger couldn't make the right contact to put his side ahead.

Thomson was involved again soon after as Town struck the woodwork, his corner finding Kelvin Langmead whose header took a deflection before clattering the cross bar.

With Town having the majority of the play, Referee Andrew Miller was faced with a big decision to make as Lynch picked the ball up outside his area prompting the man in the middle to award a free kick, but only brandish a yellow card to the goalkeeper.

Lynch's opposite number then made another incredible save to keep the score level, this time denying Danny Rowe who had poked a whipped free kick towards goal from close range.

Chances were continuing to come to both sides, with Lloyd Kerry volleying second half substitute Mark Beck's knock down over the bar in the 82nd minute.​

Town almost won the game in the closing seconds as Kerry's dinked cross dropped to Callum Howe at the back post, but somehow evaded the centre back who was poised to tap in.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Burrell, Kitching, Falkingham (Agnew 73), Howe, Langmead, Thomson (Beck 67), Kerry, Knowles (Williams 89), Muldoon, Leesley

Subs not used: Parker, Cracknell

Booked: Kerry, Thomson, Langmead

AFC Fylde: Lynch, Francis-Angol, Byrne, Bond, Hardy (Hemmings 90), Croasdale, Rowe, Cardle (Tasdemir 45), Burke, Kane, Kellermann (Toure 71)

Subs not used: Tunnicliffe, Birch

Booked: Lynch

Referee: A Miller

Attendance: 1,709 (148 away)


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