Harrogate RA 1 Clitheroe 0

Harrogate RA 1 Clitheroe 0

For the second time in six games, the Blues succumbed to a stoppage time reverse, when they had dominated the game for large periods of play.
Continuing the trend from the New Mills game, Clitheroe came out with all guns blazing. Four corners in the first three minutes set the tone, and with Zach Clark and Liam Hutchinson operating down the flanks, the home defence was stretched to breaking point. As early as the fourth minute, Clark found himself in the box within a jumble of players and just could not find the opening. This was followed by a drive from the impressive David Lynch, who shot narrowly over. Harrogate were occasionally probing down their right flank and their impressive Number 9 almost got behind the defence. One minute later, Hutchinson jinked his way free and a Gonzales flicked header went just wide. One minute later, Clark unleashed a mazy run which was only just foiled. Two minutes later after another Clark run, Gonzales took the ball into the box, danced round three players, but just could not unleash the telling shot. A further minute later, another Hutchinson header saw Gonzales skim a header wide. At this point, the home side’s traditional tactic of hoofing the ball into the opposition corner and running after it, was all that they could offer. On 32 minutes, Lynch and Hutchinson had a great exchange of passes before the resultant shot was blocked. On 41 minutes, Morton ran 50 yards with the ball, laying it off to Danny Brady who had been tracking him, but he slid the ball agonisingly wide. The travelling fans thought the deadlock had been broken when a Bamba freekick was parried by the keeper, who then saved from Morton but the Clark follow up was deemed offside. How the game remained goalless at half time is a mystery.
Clitheroe continued in the same vein in the second half. On 56 minutes, Clark shot wide. One minute later, Gonzales headed over from a corner, whilst on 63 minutes Lynch slid in to slot the ball home and was foiled by a brave save. It was not until the last quarter of the game that the home side showed any enterprise. On 69 minutes, the Harrogate Number 9 burst through the defence and had his shot tipped on to the bar. On 79 minutes, a clumsy challenge by Adam Freeland on top scorer Cartman saw a penalty awarded. This was smartly saved by Matt Green and the resultant break almost saw a goal to the Blues. The cruellest blow of all came on 91 minutes when Cartman burst down the wing, narrowed the angle and drove the ball across Green into the goal, to break Clitheroe hearts and to give Harrogate a wholly undeserved three points.

Matthew Green, Danny Brady, Seydou Bamba, Adam Freeland, Steve Mercer (c),David Lynch, Zach Clark, Danny Wilkins, Sefton Gonzales, Danny Brady, Liam Hutchinson Subs: Mike Aspin, Richard Burns, Ryan Cattermole, Pete Dunkerley, Alex Palffy.

By Chris Musson