Hockey: No love lost as Harrogate miss chance to beat Lindum

Despite it being Valentine’s Eve, there was no love lost in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon as a tempestuous affair between Lindum and Harrogate ended in a 1-1 draw.

It should have been a Valentine’s Day massacre for Harrogate, with Luke Lambert and Gonzalo Ayala missing several chances as the away side were clearly the better team over the duration of 70 minutes.

Gate were aggrieved early on as Lambert was seemingly brought down by the goalkeeper after dancing through a number of tackles. Players and spectators expected the umpire to award a penalty stroke but instead play was waved on.

Without truly exerting themselves, more chances came thick and fast.

Couture was in chief-conductor mode, Lambert was finding space and Ayala was given two chances to open the scoring.

Ayala placed a shot wide after the keeper parried a Lambert attempt, while the Argentine also fired past the post from the top of the D.

Harrogate were then unlucky not have been awarded another stroke after Lambert was fouled as he was about to tap in at the far post. As the interval arrived, it was somehow goalless.

'Two points dropped'

The second half started in the same vein, with Lambert and Harry Clemerson forcing good saves from the Lindum goalkeeper. Against the run of play, Lindum nearly went ahead. Some nice skill from a Lindum forward was followed by a crunching effort that Rob Stanworth tipped round the post.

Harrogate then sent the away fans, headed up once again by former club president Howard Marston, delirious with a lovely goal. Jarek Kulpa found captain Will Rogers on the corner of the ‘D’ with a 30 yard pass. The skipper nutmegged an onrushing defender, keeping a cool head to slide the ball across to Lambert who was left with a simple finish.

Lindum fought back impressively, and after cards were dished out to Gibbons, Graeme Bevington and Henderson, Harrogate agonisingly conceded with just five minutes to go. A simple hit and hope was deflected in by a Lindum forward.

Rogers said: "While it was a clear stroke on Lambert, we have had more than enough chances to put the game to bed. We should have seen it out but credit to Lindum for finding a way back into the game. It’s certainly two points dropped but we we’ve now gone three games unbeaten."

Harrogate remain fifth in North Hockey Division One and face Lancaster and Morecambe on Saturday in their penultimate home game.

Round-up:

Boston Spa’s first team claimed back-to-back wins for the first time since October with a 3-2 win on the road at Grimsby on Saturday.

Spa are now up to seventh in the Yorkshire Premier Division, two places and five points below Harrogate 2s – who were without a game.

Tadcaster Magnets had a week off after losing for the second time in the season last week. The in-form side host Halifax 2nds this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Ladies collected a point following a hard fought 2-2 draw at Leeds University.

Thirsk Ladies 2s beat Harrogate 3s 1-0 with Bea Bell scoring the only goal.

However, Thirsk Men’s 3s had a nightmare second half in losing 6-3 to Leeds Adel. Harry Goodall scored twice in the first half but Leeds hit back after the break. Jake Bowers hit a late consolation.