Harrogate Town make it three wins from three in pre-season with victory at South Shields FC
Harrogate Town made it three wins out of three in pre-season with a 2-1 success at South Shields on Tuesday evening.
Having overcome seventh-tier Guiseley and Cleethorpes Town in their opening two friendlies of the summer, the National League Sulphurites faced a step up in class in midweek.
The Mariners narrowly missed out on promotion from National League North at the end of last season following their play-off final defeat to Kidderminster and naturally provided Simon Weaver’s team with their biggest test of pre-season to date.
But, despite the marked difference in the quality of their opponents and the fact that they were without captain Jack Evans amidst speculation that he is on the verge of leaving the club to join newly-promoted League One side Notts County, Town raised their game and produced an improved display.
The first half ended goalless, although Harrogate did threaten through George Thomson and Will McGowan, who both saw efforts saved by Shields goalkeeper Jasper Sheik.
It would however take the visitors just a matter of seconds to break the deadlock after play resumed as centre-half Cathal Heffernan arrived at the far post to nod home Thomson’s inviting corner from the left.
Weaver made wholesale changes just after the hour-mark as he managed his players’ pre-season minutes, with no fewer than eight fresh bodies taking to the field at once.
And, less than three minutes later, former Newcastle United attacker Adam Campbell was able fire past Mark Oxley from close range to level matters.
But, it was not long before Town reclaimed the ascendancy through substitute Bailey Hobson, who finished well with his right foot inside the Shields box to register his second goal in three appearances since arriving at Wetherby Road from Chesterfield.
Harrogate then lost summer signing Ciaran McGuckin to injury, however they actually went on to finish the match the stronger of the teams despite playing the last quarter of an hour with just 10 men.
Substitutes Warren Burrell and Mason Bennett both came close to extending the Sulphurites’ lead late on, and although they were unable to do so, Weaver’s troops had already done enough.
Next up for Town is another step up in quality, as League One Doncaster Rovers visit the Marcy Fitness Stadium this Saturday afternoon for a 12pm kick-off.