Town

It was stripes versus hoops at the CNG Stadium as Harrogate Town hosted Bradford Park Avenue in a National League North fixture.

It was my first visit to the Wetherby Road ground, which has clearly benefited from investment in recent years. The largely new stands enclose the new 3G pitch nicely and helped to create a good atmosphere. Town announced this week that the club will be full-time from next year, a clear sign of ambition to climb the football pyramid. There are several similarly ambitious clubs in the National League North though, and it will take some effort to make the jump up that neighbours Guiseley managed a couple of seasons ago.  Avenue on the other hand, as previously reported here, will be happy just to stay up this season having been in the relegation places since August.

Town started brightly, and took the lead after 10 minutes.  Avenue threatened occasionally and the remainder of the first half was reasonably balanced. Things shifted significantly in the second half as Harrogate had both of their forwards sent off and they were forced to sit back for the final quarter. Bradford had a penalty saved, but relied too heavily on pumping long crosses into the box which Town keeper and man of the match Peter Crook was equal to.

Young Bradford City striker Reece Webb-Foster has just rejoined Avenue on loan having spent the tail end of last season with them. He was brought on from the bench, making it the third team that I've seen him play for this year: City, Guiseley and Avenue. In amongst that he also spent a loan spell at Harrogate, I think I'd be getting confused as to who my team mates were. There were no heroics from him today though, unlike the hat-trick I saw him score for Avenue at the tail end of last season.

So the nine men of Harrogate held on to the relief and acclaim of the home fans.

A final apology for the quality of today's image. I did the classic thing of bringing my camera but forgetting to reinstall the memory card after yesterday's download.  I fumbled with the camera on my latest hand me down phone but it stuggled to deal with the challenges of a low winter sun.