LAINTON SAVES THE DRAGONS!
HARROGATE TOWN and Wrexham will face a Tuesday-night replay at The Racecourse Ground after the sides drew for the second time in a month at The CNG Stadium.
Unsurprisingly the clash of the two National League high fliers was closely contested.
Harrogate winger Joe Leesley went nearest as his first-half header struck the crossbar, while Wrexham had goalkeeper Rob Lainton to thank for ensuring their name is in Monday’s firstround draw after keeping out Jordan Thewlis’s close-range header.
The Town striker was making his first start of the season in one of two changes from last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Dover Athletic.
The first chance of the afternoon fell the way of the hosts as Joe Leesley’s cross found its way to George Thomson, whose effort was deflected into the path of Aaron Williams, though the striker’s shot was diverted behind.
From the resulting set piece Thomson took aim for the near post area, where Leesley angled his body in a way that saw his header strike the bar and bounce clear.
Town’s number 11 almost turned provider not long after as his right-footed cross found Williams, but the in-form striker could not direct his header under the crossbar.
Simon Weaver’s side were then denied the lead by a pointblank save by Lainton after the Wrexham stopper had dived to his left to deny Thewlis, who had got himself on the end of Liam Kitching’s header at the back post.
Wrexham did have the ball in the net through Luke Young in the 22nd minute, though the precise strike into the bottom-left corner was ruled out after Mike Fondop was adjudged to have fouled Kelvin Langmead in the build-up.
Much like their recent league encounter, the sides could not be separated and went into the interval locked at 0-0, despite Williams’ late shot looking threatening.
Four minutes after the restart Wrexham again had the ball in the net as Fondop raced through on goal and lifted the ball over James Belshaw only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
Mark Carrington was next to go close for Wrexham, receiving the ball after good work from Paul Rutherford down the left, but seeing his low shot well blocked by Harrogate captain Josh Falkingham.
Both sides were only managing glimpses of goal as the second half went on as centre half Shaun Pearson glanced a header into the arms of Belshaw for Wrexham, before Thomson’s low strike was well blocked at the other end.
With the contest entering stoppage time, half-time substitute Rekeil Pyke tested Belshaw, but the best chance of the closing stages fell to Town substitute Mark Beck.
Leesley again provided a quality delivery from the lefthand side and, though he got there in front of Jack Muldoon, Beck could not keep his header down and ensured that the sides would meet again on Tuesday evening.