Academy Return With Narrow Loss at League Leaders

Harrogate Town's Academy side returned to action on Saturday 8th January, making the long trip to league leaders Lincoln.

Town started brightly and in the first twenty minutes were the better team, but unfortunately the good work led to nothing as Lincoln went ahead against the run of play, through a deflected pass in the centre of the pitch which pierced through the Harrogate centre.
 
Lincoln then went 2-0 ahead after a misplaced pass in the middle of the park led to Emmanuel Ilesanmi conceding a spot kick, having been adjudged to have fouled a Lincoln player, although the away side felt it was outside the box. Harvey Giles got a hand to the penalty but couldn’t push it away. 
 
More defensive frailties led to Lincoln getting their third with the last kick of the half, sending Town in at the interval 3-0 down.
  
It was a much better performance in the second half from Paul Stansfield's with Harrogate taking the game to Lincoln.
 
In the 54th minute Finn O’Boyle rattled in a great goal from 25 yards in the top corner with his weaker left foot to reduce the deficit.
 
Then in the 62nd minute, Town won the ball in midfield through George Horbury who released Ilesanmi to finish nicely and narrow the gap to one goal.
 
Harrogate pushed on for the equaliser, with most of the action taking place in Lincoln’s half, but the visitors couldn’t create an opening.
 
The final whistle blew and signalled defeat, after another spirited display from this young group..

Positives will be taken from the second half that will help prepare for the next game, which will be tough against a strong Bradford CIty side next weekend.

Town: Harvey Giles, Ben Tweed, James Birmingham, Olly Lamb, Bobby Attree, Mason Wilson, Brad Williams, George Horbury, Emmanuel Ilesanmi, Joe Dixon, Finn O’Boyle
 
Subs: Joel Barker, Josh Sharkey, Arron Sweete, Will Barker
 
Goals: O'Boyle 54, Ilesanmi 62