SATURDAY 8th SEPTEMBER 2007

HARROGATE TOWN 2 v 0 VAUXHALL MOTORS

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Not for the first time in recent seasons, the Motormen returned home from Harrogate Town feeling a little aggrieved at the outcome having worked so hard for a result.

On this latest visit to Wetherby Road, they looked to be on course for at least a draw against their unbeaten hosts in the Blue Square North, with central defenders Joe McMahon and loan signing Shaun Kelly on his debut making a solid partnership - until a 60th minute penalty changed the game in favour of the Yorkshire club.

In a first half of few openings, Motors’ Steve Johnson had a goal ruled out for offside against Lee Furlong who was directly in the keepers line of vision on 38 minutes and moments later, the visitors keeper Sean Lake made a terrific save to deny Lee Whittington.  At the start of the second period, Vauxhall hot-shot Paul Taylor ran off his heavy guard of two sometimes three markers, to almost snatch the lead with a right foot shot, but for a smart fingertip save from Curtis Aspden in the Town goal and shortly after the same player volleyed over the top.

The game swung away from the Motormen on the hour, when Dave Merris was accidentally tripped inside the box and up stepped Darren Dunning to convert the resultant spot kick into the bottom right corner, just at a time when the hosts were rapidly running out of ideas how to break Motors defence down.  Instead this gave them a fresh impetus and five minutes later, Chris Bettney made it two with a decent strike at the far post.

Harrogate were now buzzing for the first time in the match and could well have added further to their score while Motors never gave up the chase and continued to play some good football and create chances, but Aspden was never seriously tested again from efforts by Tom Field, McMahon, Mike Garrity and Taylor. 

Vauxhall: Lake, Moogan, Holmes, Griffiths, McMahon, Kelly, Garrity, Field (15. Nesbitt 68), Furlong (14. Wright 58), Johnson, Taylor.  Sub not used: 12. Page, 13. Longrigg, 16. Smith.