Harrogate Town 2 – 2 Bishop’s Stortford

13 March 2013

Harrogate TownTown let slip a two goal lead to finish with a disappointing draw against lowly Bishop’s Stortford.

The pitch survived a late morning inspection,but both sides later had reason to rue the boggy surface.

Town gave a start to new signing,Colin Larkin, and Alan White and Adam Bolder were recalled to the side.

Bishop’s took the game to Town, with Reniel Sappleton and new signing, Brian Woodall,volleying over and White and Dwayne Samuels both had to make important blocks.

Town then began to create pressure and Bolder’s shot just skimmed the post, before the visitors had to smother efforts by Dom Knowles and Chib Chilaka.

With half time fast approaching,Town took the lead, they were awarded a free kick on the right and Samuels found the head of White who netted from close range.

The second half was only six minutes old, when Colin Larkin made it two.

Carl Pentney raced out of his goal to clear a through ball, which unfortunately for him, stuck in the mud and Larkin rounded him to shoot an accurate cross shot into the empty net.

At that point Town were coasting to victory, but they failed to take the conditions into account.

Shane Killock’s pass to Alan White appeared to catch him in two minds and his resulting back pass held up on the tacky surface, enabling Reece Prestedge to take advantage and pull one back.

The game ebbed and flowed, with Dave Merris shooting wide and Adam Bailey-Dennis halting Larkin after he was played in by Bolder.

With only three minutes left, Bishop’s sub Jordan Roberts won a corner which Town only half cleared and the impressive Woodall scored from close range.

A visibly stung Town mounted wave after wave of attacks during the four minutes stoppage time allowed by Referee Graeme Fyvie.

Bolder’s centre was scrambled away and Pentney saved from Larkin, at point blank range.

However, it was two points squandered by Town,who were watched by a paltry 184.

Clearly the arctic weather and five home matches in close proximity,had taken their toll.

Town

1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels, 3 Merris, 4 Bolder, 5 White, 6 Killock, 7 Nowakowski, 8 Bolland (c), 9 Knowles, 10 Chilaka, 11 Larkin.

Subs (none used) 12 Dean, 14 Bloomer, 15 Radcliffe, 16 Elam, 17 Da Veiga.

Scorers White 41,Larkin 51. Bookings nil

Attendance 184

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