AFC Telford 0-4 Harrogate Town: Daniels double sends Town back to second

Town sped out of the blocks and Dom Knowles went close to an early opener but Telford keeper James Montgomery spread himself well to block the one on one opportunity.

Telford’s defence was finding life hard against Town’s speedy attack and on nine minutes Daniels made the breakthrough.

Peter Crook’s throw out, dispatched Joe Colbeck down the right wing and he picked out the former Crewe Alexandra man lurking just outside the area. His left footed strike gave Montgomery no chance.

A series of brilliant saves by Montgomery denied Colbeck and Daniels while at the other end, Lucas Dawson forced a full length save from Crook in a rare Telford attack.

In a flurry of activity before the break, Dave McGurk was booked for a heavy challenge on Sean Clancy, but Bradley Reid blazed the resulting free kick over the bar.

Town doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when an incisive ball inside the full back by Knowles, sent Colbeck clear and his searching cross was chested over the line by Daniels.

Town’s cause was strengthened when Lucas Dawson was shown a straight red card for a two footed tackle, but their numerical superiority was soon nullified when McGurk was given a second yellow for a foul on Danny Glover.

The game became more open and Telford tried hard to gain a foothold,but Lewis Turner, Luke Shiels, Cecil Nyoni and Andy McWilliams were in no mood to concede anything.

Indeed, it was Town who should have made it three when Colbeck was clean through, but once again Montgomery saved the day for the Bucks.

An accurate lob over the stranded Montgomery by Knowles then saw Josh Brizzell race back to scramble the ball of the line,but two late goals rubber stamped Town’s superiority.

Firstly, a strong run by Tom Platt took him to the goal line,where he had time to pick out Jordan Thewlis, who stroked the ball past Montgomery and just inside the far post.

To rub salt into Telford’s wounds, Town were awarded a late penalty when Graham Hutchinson flattened Platt and Knowles stepped up to get his name onto the scoresheet with a shot into the top corner.

Town: Crook, Turner, McWilliams, Platt, Shiels, McGurk (c), Colbeck, Nyoni, Clayton (Thewlis 77), Knowles, Daniels ( Kerry 67).

Unused subs,Emmett, Swain, Bloomer.