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

HARROGATE TOWN 3 – 3 DROYLSDEN

Blue Square Bet North - Tuesday 17 August 2010

Report by Gary Owen

There was the usual array of goals at Wetherby Road when these two teams meet, but those conceded by the Bloods will have Dave Pace tearing his hair out.

Whilst Droylsden looked good going forwards, their defensive frailties need sorting quickly if this season is to be the success hoped for.

Playing up the notorious Harrogate slope in the first half, Droylsden created openings for Ciaran Kilheeney and Alex Brown, but neither could convert, whilst at the other end Graeme Armstrong fired wide for the hosts.

Steve Halford was unlucky to see his header from Luke Holden's corner kick fly over, but Rob Lloyd made it two goals in two games from a tight angle after his own low cross had bobbled back to him off Kilheeney.

A minute later, Lloyd was desperately unlucky to see his looping header beat Craig Dootson only to strike the foot of the post enabling Town to clear.

However, Droylsden's lead lasted barely two minutes when Harrogate – much improved and strengthened from last term – struck level, but it was disastrous defending that provided the opportunity. Paul Phillips elected to come for a high ball, but he only succeeded in getting his wires crossed with Steve Halford, and Liam Hardy couldn't believe his luck.

Four minutes later, and Droylsden found themselves behind when Hardy collected a high pass and rounded both Halford and Nat Kerr before slotting past a bemused Philips.

Harrogate now had their tails up and with the benefit of the slope put the visitors under pressure, but Droylsden showed they were useful on the counter-attack, with Luke Holden's rising drive just going over from 14 yards.

But it was Harrogate who looked the more likely to add to their lead. Adam Nowakowski headed straight at Phillips, and the Bloods' stopper made a great one-on-one stop at the feet of Hardy, before Armstrong saw an effort go wide.

Hardy again forced Phillips into action with a finger tip save when the former Armthorpe man had again led the Bloods' defence a merry dance, and Wayne Phillips steered wide after cutting inside to bring the half to an end – much to the relief of the Droylsden camp.

A deflected strike by Armstrong was held by Phillips after the re-start, but the ex-Gateshead forward looked to have made the game safe with a far post header once Droylsden had failed to clear a corner kick.

This time, it was Droylsden who provided an almost immediate response when Alex Brown's progress into the box was halted by a Harrogate leg, and Kilheeney made no mistake from the spot with 35 minutes to go.

From this point on, the Bloods used the downhill slop to their advantage, and a super dummy by Kilheeney presented Brown with a chance to equalise, but he failed to control the ball just 8 yards from goal.

Dootson gathered in a low strike from Robbie Booth, before he registered a much better strike forcing the ex-Hyde ‘keeper into a full length save to turn the ball around the post.

Six substitutions, plus clear time-wasting by the home side at throw-ins and free-kicks (including a caution for Dootson) saw five minutes' added time. However, Droylsden needed just over three of those to strike a deserved equaliser as substitutes Dan Gardner and David McNiven combined for the latter to slot past his former team-mate.

A late equaliser often feels like a victory, but Dave Pace will see through that and given his side's first half defending, will consider this as two points lost. Nevertheless, on this performance, not many will come away with much from Wetherby Road this season.

TEAMS

Harrogate Town:

Dootson, Roma, Shepherd, Nowakowski, Pell, Bloomer, Foster, Williams, Armstrong (Jacklin, 83'), Hardy (Kendall, 69'), Phillips W. (Naylor, 52')

Subs. not used: Wright, Myers (GK).

Droylsden:

Phillips P., Vaughan, Brownhill, Kerr, Halford, Beck (Booth, 55'), Lloyd (Gardner, 74'), Brown, Lloyd, Kilheeney, Killeen, Holden (McNiven, 74').

Subs. not used: Roche, Cryan.

REFEREE: Mr. N. J. Sharp (Hartlepool)

ATTENDANCE: 296