Harrogate Town AFC

Town's second pre-season game ended in goalless draw against West Yorkshire side Brighouse Town.
 
Simon Weaver named a rotated side for the trip to Brighouse with a number of new signings handed more vital minutes.
 
The first chance came for Town in the opening seconds when a trialist ran in at the back post to connect with a low cross into the area. However, he failed to hit the target.
 
The end to the opening five minutes saw Jon Stead's powerful strike from just inside the box sting the Brighouse keepers palms, with Walker close to finding the back of the net with the follow up attempt.
 
The conditions were far from ideal as strong wind, combined with the constant rain making it difficult. Despite this, Town were moving the ball round nicely with Jack Emmett in particular catching the eye.
 
Just past the half hour mark it was Brendan Kiernan who created the next chance. Kiernan's run down the right was noticed by Warren Burrell who played a long ball to the winger's feet. A low cross by Kiernan would have been met by Stead, only for a Brighouse defender to clear.
 
Five minutes later and Cracknell pulled off a world class save, diving high to his right to deny Brighouse the lead. It would be the last chance of a wet and windy half of football.
 
Two changes were made at the break by Weaver with both Fallowfield and Hall entering the field of play.
 
The Town defence were soon called into action after Brighouse worked the ball well down the right. The cross into the box was inviting but the man on the end of the delivery couldn't make a clean connection.
 
At the other end, Kirby and Walker linked well with the latter breaking through on goal. A strong and well timed recovery challenge was need to stop Walker taking aim on the Brighouse goal.
 
Just before the hour mark, Brighouse came close again to grabbing the opening goal. Not one but two close range efforts were excellently blocked by Fallowfield to keep the tie goalless.
 
The home side certainly came out for the second-half with more intent as they threatened Town again with just under 30 minutes to play.
 
The Town defence was stretched as the ball was moved by Brighouse to the spare man on the right wing. His run into the box was blocked by Connor Hall who was alert to dart across the box to block the effort goal wards.
 
With 10 minutes left to play Town came close to taking the lead with Lokko's glancing header from a Town corner narrowly falling the wrong side of the far post.
 
Late on, second-half substitute Mark Beck had a strong header saved by the Brighouse keeper in what was the last effort of the contest.
 
Next for Town is a trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, in what will be Town's last pre-season fixture before the season starts.
 
Town: Cracknell, Burrell (Fallowfield 45), Trialist, Lokko, Smith (Hall 45), Walker (Trialist 69), Emmett, Kirby (Agnew 69), Trialist (Leesley 76), Stead (Beck 62), Kiernan (Martin 76).
 
Report by Henry Whitaker