DOWSON’S CARDS TOP THE PILE
JUST hours after signing on a season-loan loan, Alex Bradley netted a 93rd-minute winner for Harrogate Town to complete a debut to remember for the Lincoln City man.
It had looked like Nyal Bell’s goal had earned Stockport a point after Mark Beck had put Harrogate ahead, though Bradley’s strike was what Town deserved according to booss Simon Weaver.
“I thought we deserved the win,” a relieved Weaver said. “For large parts we looked like a very good team, there was a resilience that shone through and I was delighted for the players to get their just rewards having put such a shift in.
“We maybe proved a few doubters wrong in the process, which is always nice, and in the face of such vocal support from Stockport it was undeniably a great moment.”
Weaver had made two changes from last weekend’s defeat, while Jim Gannon named an unchanged side and was left disappointed not to come away with a point.
“I’m really disappointed for the lads because they put an awful lot into the game, it’s very difficult with the hot weather and when against a good side who were really determined to get something out of the game.
“We perhaps could have been a bit more streetwise and a bit more switched on, staying focused and concentrating, there were too many times when we got caught napping.
“I think it was that little bit of extra nouse we needed to get a point from today.”
Town made a good start to the contest, though the first effort on target arutes
rived in the 20th minute as James Belshaw denied Adam Thomas twice in as many minutes.
The visitors best chance of the opening half fell to Frank Mulhern, but the former Harrogate striker couldn’t place the ball either side of Belshaw.
Weaver’s side finished the half the stronger as Jack Emmett capitalised on a defensive slip to find Jack Muldoon, who released the overlapping Ryan Fallowfield, though Ben Hinchcliffe kept out the low strike.
Only a couple of minafter putting George Smith’s cross past the post, Beck put Harrogate ahead, converting Fallowfield’s low cross after Josh Falkingham’s defence splitting pass had found the full back’s run.
It could have been two moments later as Beck’s sumptuous touch fed Bradley in behind the Stockport defence, but the midfielder took a fraction too long to take his shot and Hinchcliffe saved.