Harrogate Town 0 - 3 Town (Friendly). HARROGATE isn't just flowers on The Stray and Betty's Tea Rooms.

Town's visit there last night was much more muck and nettles and Bovril.

Two late goals disguised the fact, but Peter Jackson's side were given a solid work-out in the Wetherby Road rain.

While in sporting circles, Harrogate is better known for its rugby union team, flying high in National II, its UniBond League Premier Division football club are shaping up nicely this season.

Saturday's 3-1 home win over Southport put them third in the table, and even without former Blackburn and Wolves midfielder Mark Atkins, they still gave a Town XI made up mainly of players returning from injury or suspension a competitive test.

Town's hardy bunch of travelling fans got a first chance to see on-loan Preston striker Fola Onibuje, who produced a lively and energetic display and opened the scoring on 17 minutes when he drove home confidently after goalkeeper Liam Sutcliffe could only parry a well-struck Rob Edwards free-kick.

Harrogate's Colin Hunter had earlier hit the bar from a similar set-piece, and Town goalkeeper Jacob Giles had to be alert to block from James Turley, then collect the looping ricochet, in the 19th minute.

Opposite number Sutcliffe moved fast to smother at the feet of Onibuje as the skilful 19-year-old raced on to Chris Holland's 21st-minute through ball, then seven minutes later, Sutcliffe saved from Andrew Holdsworth after the midfielder broke down the right and thumped in a cross-cum-shot.

As play swung from end to end, ex-York player Turley fired a left-foot shot just wide, then shot over with his right from a free-kick just outside the penalty area before former Leeds and Port Vale defender Neil Aspin's cover tackle denied Onibuje as he chased a neat Martyn Booty ball into the box.

Play became a little scrappy in the second half after both Jackson and home manager John Reid made changes, but hard-working Harrogate had three decent chances to level before Town finally took control.

First Robbie Whellans wasted a good James Riordon pass by shooting wide, then Giles did well to smother at the feet of Ben Sherwood and Colin Hunter.

A 60th-minute foul on Town substitute John McAliskey, on for John Thorrington, gave Edwards the chance to pump in another free-kick which shaved the bar.

And Adnan Ahmed, who proved his recovery from an ankle injury by replacing Tyrone Thompson at the start of the second half, had a 70th-minute shot saved.

However the home goalkeeper was beaten on 77 minutes, when McAliskey drove home low from an angle after good approach play by Holdsworth, and again on 80, when Ahmed made no mistake as the ball broke kindly to him on the edge of the area.

A three-goal defeat was tough on the non-Leaguers, but Town looked the sharper in front of goal and defended solidly in a contest which provided much needed match action for a string of players.

Harrogate: Sutcliffe, Riordon (Smith, 62mins), McDaid, Sturdy, Aspin (Naylor, 62mins), Dunning, Turley (Bowker, HT), Sherwood, Raw, Whellans, Hunter. Sub not used: McNaughton.

Town: Giles, Booty, Yates, Sodje (Hardy, HT), Edwards, Holland, Thompson (Ahmed, HT), Mattis, Holdsworth, Thorrington (McAliskey, 57mins), Onibuje. Subs not used: Collins, Walsh, Young.

Referee: Ian Brown (Wetherby).

Next story