Chib Chilaka goes for goal

Harrogate Town 1 – 1 Stalybridge Celtic

26 February 2012

It was the late, late show at the CNG stadium, when it took until the last minute for Paul Brayson’s superb chip to salvage a point for Town.

Celtic made the better start, with Jake Picton blocking Greg Marsh’s shot and Alan White denying Phil Marsh with a brilliant tackle.

Town, playing down the slope, began to find their feet, with Paul Brayson and Rob Youhill combining to set up Paul Bolland,who shot straight at Jan Budtz.

Full time Celtic produced some classy approach play, but fortunately for Town there was no end product.

Chib Chilaka and Laurie Wilson found their way into Referee Backhouse’s book, both for reckless tackles, but as half time approached, Town began to dominate.

 Chib Chilaka goes for goalChib Chilaka goes for goal 

 

Richard Pell headed at Budtz and then hooked over the top after the giant keeper spilled Wilson’s free kick.

Youhill,then sent Craig Radcliffe away down the left, then sprinted into the box to head the resulting cross at Budtz.

Town survived scares either side of the break when Stephen Brogan shot across the face of the goal and Mark Cook made a fantastic one handed save to keep out the unmarked Wilkinson’s shot.

White was booked for a foul on Marsh, a decision that almost had dire consequences for Town, as Celtic began to turn the screw.

The match at last began to catch fire with Town managing to catch Celtic on the break with Radcliffe and Chilaka firing at Budtz and Brayson being caught by Joel Bembo-Leta when well clear.

Town almost opened their account when Kristian Platt’s back header sailed past Budtz, but the keeper made a brilliant recovery to thwart Brayson.

Seconds later Cook tipped over the bar to keep out Hobson’s header from Brogan’s centre, but with fifteen minutes left, the same two players gave Celtic the lead.

Hobson’s twenty yard shot rebounded off the post and Brogan rifled home.

Town’s plight looked desperate, when with eight minutes left White was given his marching orders after a trip on Budtz.

However,the ten men bravely took the game to Celtic and were rewarded when Budtz could only parry Bolland’s shot to Brayson, who saved the day with a fine cross shot.

Town 1 Cook 2 Picton(Turl 80) 3 Heckingbottom 4 Wilson 5 Pell 6 White (c) 7 Youhill(Bloomer59) 8 Bolland 9 Brayson 10 Chilaka 11 Radcliffe (Elam 64)

Unused subs17 Clayton 18 Lynn Scorer Brayson 90

Sent off White Booked Wilson, Chilaka

Attendance 438

 

 

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