Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 1 HARROGATE TOWN

Blue Square North – Saturday 6 December 2008

Report by Gary Owen

A debut goal from Tony Gray and a second half strike by Steve Beck were sufficient for Droylsden to secure these three precious points in this promotion battle at the Butcher's Arms.

Bloods' boss Dave Pace again made full use of his squad, with a number of players rested in the stand with an eye on the crucial FA Cup tie on Tuesday. Nevertheless, with third-placed Harrogate lining-up in a 5-3-2 formation, using Denny Ingram as sweeper, and Droylsden adopting their usual 4-3-3, it was inevitably one-way traffic for most of the first half towards Jim Provett's goal.

Indeed, Droylsden's recent acquisition from Southport, Tony Gray, could have opened his account as early as the first thirty seconds, but Provett gathered in his shot at the second attempt after he had been freed by Neil Prince.

Kevin Townson also saw shots saved by the Harrogate custodian before the North Yorkshire side took the lead against the run of play, but what a good goal it was. James Dean collected a clearance from defence and turned Mike Byron inside-out before curling his effort into the far corner from 18 yards.

Droylsden almost stuck back immediately, but Justin Whittle blocked from Townson and Byron's goal-bound header struck a defender from a corner kick.

Dean tried to double his and Town's tally in the 24th minute when he robbed the otherwise outstanding Carl Ruffer to test Craig Mawson at this near post.

The Bloods did level matters on 33 minutes, when a deep cross into the box by Townson was cut-back by Beck for Gray to slam into the roof of the net from close range.

Townson could have sent the hosts in leading at the break when he benefitted from a slip by Nathan Peat, but he dwelled on the ball allowing Peat to make a fine recovery tackle.

Neil Sorvel pulled a shot wide and Provett made a great one-handed save from Townson's volley as Droylsden began the second half where they left off in the first.

On 64 minutes, the hosts struck the winner when Harrogate failed to deal with a ball into their box, allowing Townson to square the ball for Beck to convert from close in.

Peat wasted opportunities from two free kicks for Town, and with four minutes remaining a stretching Darren Dunning couldn't quite steer the ball past Mawson.

TEAMS:

Droylsden

Mawson, Roche, Tandy (Brownhill, 74'), Byron, Ruffer, Sorvel, Beck, Pickford Brown, 57'), Gray, Townson, Prince (Rouse, 69').

Unused Subs: Dugdale, Burbeary.

Harrogate Town

Provett, Toulson, Loew, Ingram, Whittle (Young, 34'), Peat, Marshall, Dunning, Smith, Dean, Hardy

Unused Subs: Ibrahim, Delaney, Hedge.

Referee: Mr. T. R. Tankard (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 324