Harrogate Town suffered their fourth 2-1 defeat in five matches, as they went down to a late goal at Sutton United.
Town named the same starting line up that played at Halifax on New Year’s Day, apart from Liam Kitching,who returned from suspension to be given a place on the subs bench.
It was Sutton who were the first to threaten, but Tom Bolarinwa’s strike from distance was easily dealt with by James Belshaw.
Unfortunately the Town keeper could do nothing to prevent Sutton taking a nineteenth minute when Harry Beautyman’s free kick was headed into the corner of the net by Ayunga.
Town tried to redress the balance and home custodian,Ross Worner,had to keep out a shot from George Thomson, before Lloyd Kerry curled wide of the upright.
Late in the half,Town were lucky not to slip further behind, when home skipper Craig Eastmond’s goalbound shot was deflected behind.
After early second half pressure from Sutton,in which Gimy Toure blazed over Town’s crossbar,it was the visitors who struck next with a quality goal.
Thomson made space for himself inside the Sutton area and curled a superb shot with his left foot into the top corner of the net.
Town had the bit between their teeth and Joe Leesley’s teasing centre across goal just evaded Mark Beck.
Sadly,once again Town were to be undone by yet another late goal, when with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Beautyman stabbed the ball into the net from close range.
A last desperate rally by Town almost bore dividends as Thomson forced Worner to punch clear,before the ball was headed off the line and a late Beck effort was blocked by Worner.
Town
Belshaw,Fallowfield,Falkingham,Howe,Burrell,Thomson,Emmett(Woods 77),Beck,Leesley(Muldoon 81)Langmead,Kerry(Williams 86).
Uunused subs,Cracknell,Kitching Booked Burrell,Langmead.
Scorer,Thomson 60.
Sutton
Worner,Bennett,Beckwith,Bolarinwa(Thomas Asante 76),Toure(Davis 64),Ayunga(McQueen 76),Eastmond,Bailey,Beautyman,Pearce,Williams.
Unused subs,Lema,Mason.
Scorers,Ayunga 19,Beautyman 82.
Referee S Purkiss, Att.1841
By John Harrison.
@JohnHar59276371
