Town returned to the CNG stadium for the fifth and final time this preseason, to face newly promoted Evo-Stik Premier Division side Scarborough Athletic; the penultimate game before Town make there bow in the Vanarama National league.
Simon Weaver's side came out second best to defeat an impressive Scarborough Athletic outfit to make it four wins out of five at home in preparation for the 2018/2019 season.The Harrogate Boss named five of the starting line-up that convincingly beat Bradford City in the last fixture, with Joe Cracknell, Ben Parker, Kevin Langmead, Liam Agnew and Casey Stewart returning to the side.
Scarborough started off the game looking very lively, with their number seven Wayne Brooksby producing several dangerous runs and Nathan Valentine registering the first shot of the game for the seagulls in the fifth minute.
Town's first real chance of the game came in the 15th minute. The lively looking Jack Muldoon carried the ball forward and found George Thomson on the edge of the box but the man with the new contact ends up dragging the shot wide.
As the half went on both teams were trying different styles of play to try and break the deadlock. A series of long balls from Joe Cracknell produced some good link up play for Town but unfortunately no end product could be found.
Muldoon seemed on a mission to break the deadlock, another one of his pacey runs and passes towards Liam Agnew nearly creates a good chance for Harrogate.
But it was Scarborough Athletic who broke the deadlock in 33rd minute as James Walshaw got past Tobey Lees who squared it to Valentine in the middle for a tap In.
The goal for the visitors really sprang Town into action, in the 37th minute the man who picked up a new contract during the week Thomson fired one in from the right side of the area towards the bottom left corner of the goal which was then tapped in by aaron Williams.
Only a few minutes later Thomson clearly fancied his chances, but Scarborough keeper Tommy Taylor was equal to the low effort.
Weaver made three changes at half time, Muldoon, Ryan Fallowfield and Josh Falkingham are replaced by Warren Burrell, Jack Emmett and A Trialist.
Town started the second half looking to get the goal, ‘trialist' produced a number of quick and skilful runs to create problems for the Scarborough defence, producing the first effort on goal of the second half.
Despite the pressing play from Town, it was Scarborough who took the lead in the 53rd minute, good run and placement from Walshaw to beat Cracknell.
Town very nearly could've found an equalizer in the 63rd minute through the inform Dom Knowles, a good run from the striker left him with one on one with the seagull's keeper but he couldn't find the back of the goal, a rare sight in recent times for the CNG faithful.
Scarborough were really showing their quality despite being lower down the football pyramid then Harrogate.
Some good attacking play lead to a great chance in the 75th minute Michael Coulson but Cracknell was equal to it.
Despite a quiet second half for Town did get a chance in the final 10 minutes of the 2nd half, Dom Knowles picked put Thomson on the edge of the box, but he could only drag it wide.
Harrogate failed to pull one back in the closing stages of the game, resulting in the first defeat for Town in five this pre-season, with a trip to Wales to play Cefn Druids coming up, before the historic league opener against Sutton United.
Report by Isaac Martin
Harrogate Town: Cracknell, Fallowfield (Burrell 45), Parker, Falkingham (Emmett 45), Langmead, Lees (Howe 61), Thomson, Agnew, Williams, Stewart (Knowles 56), Muldoon (Trialist)
Subs not used: Howe, Belshaw
Goals: Williams 37
Scarborough: Taylor, Lacey, Merris, Dixon (Cadman 56), Killock, Gooda, Brooksby (Jowett 84), Valentine, Walshaw, Coulson, Annan
Subs not used: Morgan, Bowman, Hewitt
Goals: Valentine 33, Walshaw 53
Attendance: 376