Returning Kerry on target as Town are held to Trophy draw by Salford

Lloyd Kerry netted for Harrogate Town against Salford City on his return from a long injury lay-off

Boss Simon Weaver set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation, rather than operating with a back three as he had done for the 0-0 draw at the Ammies’ Moor Lane base a fortnight earlier.

And midfielder Kerry was named in the starting XI for the first time since fracturing his cheekbone at Halifax in August.

The former Chesterfield man gave Weaver’s side a dream start, opening the scoring with a poked finish inside two minutes.

Town’s lead was short lived though, as City took full advantage of Simon Ainge receiving treatment for a head injury when James Poole found the bottom corner of the net with a good finish after 18 minutes.

Ainge’s central defensive partner Luke Shiels then headed the hosts back into the lead on the stroke of half-time after a corner was only partially cleared by the Salford backline.

Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson’s men grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 67th minute when poor marking from a set-piece allowed Michael Nottingham a free header from close range that the full-back duly dispatched past Chris Elliot.

The visitors were reduced to ten men with 11 minutes to go when skipper Bradley Barnes was shown a second yellow card, but Town could not take advantage and now face a Tuesday night trip to Moor Lane for the replay.