TOWN SHOW JUST HOWE TO DO IT!

HARROGATE TOWN moved into the automatic promotion places with a battling 3-1 victory over Solihull Moors at The CNG Stadium.

Liam Kitching’s seventhminute opener was cancelled out just three minutes later by Adi Yussuf, leaving the sides stuck level pegging for the majority of the game.

That was until the 75th minute when Town winger George Thomson found the bottom corner with his left foot and Callum Howe headed in a Joe Leesley corner just three minutes later, prompting Town Boss Simon Weaver to hail the result his side’s best of the season.

He said: “I think that was our best win so far, we really had to earn it as it is always hard work against Solihull.

“Once we made the pitch a bit bigger and started to pass the ball well, we created good openings.

“We had to stay patient while finding that balance between committing to the way we play, but not being too intricate and getting bullied, so it’s a good feeling to get the win.”

Weaver named the same starting XI that won impressively at Aldershot the week before, while Mark Beck was named on the bench for the first time since suffering injury in the National League North Promotion Final.

It took just seven minutes for Town to take the lead as Leesley’s corner was headed towards goal by Dom Knowles, with Kitching applying the final touch on the line.

The hosts’ advantage lasted just three minutes though, as Yussuf volleyed into the bottom left corner to level the score.

Despite the frantic start, the tempo of the first half slowed somewhat after the first ten minutes with referee Leigh Doughty often having to bring the game to a halt.

Town gradually took control of the game with Josh Falkingham influential as usual and almost putting his side ahead moments before the break, only to see his well-struck shot caught by Ryan Boot.

Four minutes after the restart, Weaver’s side went close to edging ahead as Kelvin Langmead saw his header from Leesley’s corner cleared, with Jack Muldoon’s follow up clipping the post on the way behind.

Town had to wait until the 75th minute to regain their lead, but did so in style as Leesley picked out Thomson, who was able to cut inside and fire into the bottom corner on his left foot.

Just like Town’s opener, another goal followed three minutes later, only this time it went the way of the hosts as Leesley’s corner was powerfully headed in by Howe at the back post.

It could have been more for Weaver’s side with the returning Beck twice going close late on, but twice being denied by visiting stopper Boot.