Harrogate Town 1 – 1 Sheffield Wednesday

1 August 2014

Harrogate Town were held to a 1-1 draw by a youthful Sheffield Wednesday X1 in their latest pre-season friendly.

The Owls created the first chances with Rafa Floro forcing Phil Barnes to save at the foot of the post and Frank Betra shooting across goal.
Town soon found their feet and Luke Dean and the impressive Louis Swain began to torment the Owls defence,but it was James Walshaw who almost gave Town the lead with a shot that flashed narrowly wide.

The Wetherby Road faithful did not have long to wait for a goal,because on 16 minutes Swain’s accurate centre was headed through a crowded defence by Harry Coates to put Town one up.

Town continued to turn the screw and Lewis Turner carved out an opening for Walshaw who saw his shot brilliantly turned for a corner by Owl’s keeper, Cameron Dawson.

Dawson then repeated his heroics with a spectacular save to keep out Adam Nowakowski’s header from Lloyd Kerry’s corner.

Sheffield began to counter strongly and Eddie Samba made a fine run from midfield but shot wide with only Barnes to beat.

Next, it was Betra’s turn to squander a chance to equalise when he headed Spencer Brown’s cross straight at Barnes.

The second half saw the usual mass substitutions,with Walshaw heading against the bar before he made way for Ryan Kendall.

The Owl’s goal had a charmed life as both Kendall and Kerry hit the woodwork within a minute.

Unfortunately, Town were made to pay for their profligacy when Wednesday were awarded a free kick on the left wing. Ryan Croasdale’s deep cross crept in at the far post to square the match.

Although Town had the lion’s share of the match,the Owls hung on for a creditable draw.

Town 1 Barnes, 2 Turner, 3 Nelthorpe, 4 Lenighan, 5 Killock (c), 6 Coates, 7 Kerry, 8 Nowakowski, 9 Swain, 10 Walshaw, 11 Dean.
Used subs, Bloomer, Kendall Meynell, Rowe, Metcalfe,Emmett, Heath. Unused subs McGurk, Crook.
Scorer Coates 16 minutes Att.292.
By John Harrison.

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