Quakers beaten at Harrogate, but another promising performance

By Ray Simpson

Quakers beaten at Harrogate, but another promising performance

Line ups and report from Friday's friendly

 

Harrogate Town 2 Darlington 1

Darlington produced another promising performance, particularly in the second half, when they were beaten at Wetherby Road tonight.

Quakers worked hard throughout the game, and they caused Harrogate several problems in the last 25 minutes as they maintained a fast tempo.

 

Quakers, with David Atkinson starting in midfield, had the first chance of the game in the opening minutes, a long range shot by Stephen Thompson that keeper Dale Belshaw saved, while Jamie Holmes had a couple of good runs into the box on the left hand side.

Harrogate took the lead on 22 minutes when former Darlington striker Mark Beck headed past Chris Elliott from a right wing cross.

Quakers were put under pressure at the start of the second half, and they went 2-0 down on 50 minutes when the ball was chipped through for Warren Burrell to knock past Elliott.

Quakers though rolled their sleeves up and steadily worked their way back into the game, causing Harrogate plenty of problems. Jamie Holmes volleyed over from a Thompson cross, and also had a penalty shout turned down when he seemed to be pushed in the box.

They pulled a goal back on 67 minutes when Holmes cut in from the left and set up Jarrett Rivers, who took a touch and hit a sweet right foot shot past Belshaw from the edge of the box.

AA then made several subs, and triallist Julian Donawa showed plenty of promise when he came on. They had more of the game than Harrogate in the closing stages, and got round the back of the defence on a couple of occasions, with David Atkinson going close from long range.

Team: Chris Elliott, Luke Trotman, Michael Liddle (sub Galbraith 71), David Atkinson, Louis Laing (sub Glover 88), Jordan Watson, Jarrett Rivers (sub Bell 89), Will Hatfield (sub Donawa 78), Adam Campbell (sub Tyrell 88), Stephen Thompson (sub Bascome 78), Jamie Holmes

Subs: Terry Galbraith, Cameron Hall, Osagi Bascome, Cameron Holliday, Tehvan Tyrell, Lucas Bell, Justin Donawa (triallist winger), Mitch Glover

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, G Smith, Falkingham, Burrell, Leesley, Kiernan, Hall, Brown, W Smith, Beck, Stead

Subs: Fallowfield, Howe, Thomson, Jones, Kerry.

Referee: Jon Moss.

Quakers' next friendly is at Bishop Auckland on Monday night, kick off 7pm