Harrogate Town 6-1 Barnoldswick Town: Andy Gascoigne and Dom Knowles hit braces as Town reach County Cup semis

Andy Gascoigne scored a brace as he continued his return from a double leg break as Simon Weaver’s men were too prolific for their Northern Counties West League opponents.

Dominic Knowles also marked a return to form in front of goal with two strikes, while Jordan Thewlis and Lewis Turner added the others.

An early free kick from Barnoldswick’s Arley Barnes was cleared for a corner,but on 14 minutes Town took the lead when Knowles shot past Jordan Gidley from just outside the area.

Barnoldswick were playing some attractive football and they equalised four minutes later when the Town defence failed to deal with a Joe Gaughan cross and John Beckwith beat Peter Crook with a low shot into the corner.

That turned out to be the high spot of the game for the visitors and Thewlis soon restored Town’s lead with a sidefooted shot into the far corner of the net.

The visitors were being overrun by Town’s attack,with Jack Emmett being the main tormenter and it was no surprise when he was brought down by Shaun Airey. Knowles easily converted the resulting penalty.

Town made it four just before the break when Gascoigne brilliantly chipped Gidney after some excellent approach play.

Any faint hopes of a Barnoldswick recovery were extinguished on 50 minutes when Knowles was upended in the area and Gascoigne stepped forward to convert Town’s second penalty of the match.

To Barnoldswick’s credit they refused to throw in the towel and Gaughan lashed a rising drive over Town’s bar, while Barnes tested Crook with a powerful shot.

However,it was Harrogate who had the last word,when a strong run by Cecil Nyoni was ended with a foul 25 yards out, and Lewis Turner completed the scoring when he curled the free kick past Gidley.

Town: Crook, Turner, McWilliams, Nyoni, Coates, Bloomer, Emmett (Colbeck 55), Cadman, Knowles (Clayton 69), Gascoigne (Worrall 65), Thewlis.

Unused subs: Daniels, McGurk.