Harrogate Town 3 Yeovil Town 0: George Thomson shines as gap at the top is narrowed

George Thomson celebrates after putting Harrogate Town 3-0 up against Yeovil Town. Picture: Matt Kirkham

Two goals from George Thomson, either side of a Jack Diamond strike, sealed a convincing 3-0 success over the Glovers on what was a freezing night at a windswept CNG Stadium.

It took both sides some time to adjust to the difficult conditions, but with Storm Ciara at their backs, Town eventually began to exert some pressure on the visiting defence.

Jon Stead went close with a header from Thomson’s in-swinging corner from the left, then Connor Hall blazed Diamond’s inviting low cross over the bar when he ought to have done much better.

The longer the half wore on, the more Town saw of the ball, and Jack Muldoon got in behind down the right in the 30th minute, only to direct his finish into the side-netting.

Simon Weaver’s men continued to huff and puff, and eventually got their noses in front two minutes before the interval.

Muldoon dropped his shoulder on a Yeovil defender as he attempted to shepherd the ball out of play down the Harrogate left, stole possession and delivered a cross to the far post where the ball eventually broke for Thomson to ram home.

The lead was doubled just six minutes after the resumption when Thomson’s pass found Diamond racing infield off the left flank and the Sunderland loanee calmly slid the ball past Stuart Nelson.

Yeovil almost halved the deficit soon afterwards, but Jimmy Smith’s header was hacked off the goal-line in the nick of time.

That was however as good as it was to get for the Glovers, as their hosts put the game beyond their reach on 73 minutes.

And they did so in some style, Ryan Fallowfield doing superbly down the right, playing a one-two with Muldoon and delivering into the penalty area.

The waiting Diamond then laid the ball off for Kerry and his low shot was cleverly diverted into the back of the net by Thomson.

Town almost added a fourth in stoppage-time, but substitute Kian Harratt was thwarted by a fine Nelson stop before visiting winger Myles Hippolyte saw red for a cowardly late challenge on Will Smith.

Victory leaves Town within touching distance of leaders Barrow and clear of third-placed Halifax, albeit having now played a game more.