COLLINS’ PEN SAVES THE U’S
Harrogate denied their dream start
ASTOPPAGE-TIME penalty denied Harrogate a winning start to life in the National League as Jamie Collins’ earned Sutton a late point at the CNG Stadium.
The hosts thought they had completed a second-half turnaround and claimed maximum points in the 85th minute when Kelvin Langmead converted from a corner.
Jack Muldoon had levelled early in the first half after a Jamie Butler mistake, pegging back the visitors, who led through Charlie Clough’s powerful first-half header, though Town boss Simon Weaver felt his side deserved more from the match.
He said: “I think our performance warranted a victory based on chances created. We had some really good spells in the match but we’ll take a point.
“It was important not to lose on the opening day and we have shown our true colours by coming out fighting in the second half, especially in that first ten-minute period where we caused them a lot of problems.”
Sutton started on the front foot and launched some dangerous balls into the Town area but it was the National League newcomers who created the first chance as Aaron Williams’ shot from Ryan Fallowfield’s low cross was deflected onto the crossbar.
The chance gave Weaver’s side a big lift as Dom Knowles went extremely close soon after before the striker became the second Town man to hit the woodwork, heading George Thomson’s freekick off the upright with 27 minutes gone.
Despite Town looking dangerous, The U’s took the lead against the run of play when Aswad Thomas’ free-kick was headed home by Clough six minutes before the break.
The goal shifted the momentum of the tie as Sutton had the better of the first half’s closing stages, with the lively Ross Lafayette dragging wide late on.
The visitors managed to stifle Harrogate in the second half, up until the hour mark when Thomson’s low cross was spilled by Butler, allowing Muldoon to equalise from a yard.
Replacement Langmead then thought he had sealed a memorable win as the centre back picked up a loose ball from a corner and smashed low into the net with only five minutes to play, but there was more drama to follow.
Midway into five minutes of stoppage time, referee Simon Mather awarded a penalty for a deliberate handball against Callum Howe after a hopefuly delivery into the Town area.
Collins confidently found the top left corner from the spot and send his side home with a point.
And a share of the spoils was a fair reflection of the game according to visiting manager Paul Doswell.
He concluded: “I thought it was a fantastic opening game for the supporters and was a fair result in the end, though it could have gone either way in the closing stages.”
STAR MAN: Josh Falkingham (Harrogate) ATT: 1,378 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Simon Mather