Gateshead 1-3 Town - Armstrong brace helps Town end pre season with a win

A brace from Luke Armstrong helped Town end their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 win away at National League outfit Gateshead.

After a trialist had put Town ahead, Luke Armstrong netted late in the half to send his side into the break ahead.

​Former Town striker Aaron Martin pulled one back for Gateshead, but Armstrong's second of the afternoon four minutes later ensured it was Harrogate who left with the victory.

Simon Weaver's final starting XI of pre-season was made up of seven Summer additions, with George Thomson, Alex Pattison, Luke Armstrong and a trialist making up the starting line-up.

Town's only trialist opened the scoring after just four minutes, latching onto Alex Pattison's low cross to finish first time past Dan Langley in the Gateshead goal.

Twice it looked like the hosts would find themselves in a great position to level, but alert goalkeeping from Pete Jameson to sweep up behind the defence denied Town's opponents on both occasions.

At the other end, Pattison went close to making it two for Town, but his back post finish was blocked on the line by the recovering Ethan Pye.

With five minutes to go until half time Armstrong was able to wrestle possession away from Carl Magnay and finish well, doubling Town's lead going into the interval.

Both goalkeepers were forced into saves early into the second half with Langley denying Pattison before Pete Jameson kept out Adam Campbell's strike across goal with his feet.

Just seconds after being introduced, Martin got his name on the scoresheet against his former club, getting on the end of a low cross after Gateshead had worked a three on two situation in their favour.

Armstrong soon restored his side's two goal advantage though, collecting Jack Muldoon's cross and beating Langley at the second attempt four minutes later.

Pattison went close to a fourth for Town, though could only hit the side netting as Weaver's side ended their pre-season campaign with a win.

Town: Jameson, Welch-Hayes (Ferguson 72), Mattock (Burrell 64), Thomson (Horbury 80), Richards, Headley, Pattison, Austerfield (Dooley 72), Daly (Muldoon 63), Armstrong, Trialist

Subs not used: Oxley

Goals: Trialist 4, Armstrong 40, 66

Gateshead: Langley, Tinkler, Magnay (Pani 70), Richardson, Pye (Storey 45), Bailey, Olley, Ward (Trialist 70), Allan (Martin 61), Campbell, Blackett (Forbes 70)

Subs not used: Montgomery, Wombwell, Williamson

Goals: Martin 61

Referee: Seb Stocksbridge