Harrogate Town 2 AFC Telford 1 - Report and pictures

The Bucks, who were lacklustre, went behind just before the hour mark as John-Paul Pittman prodded the ball home, and the impressive striker added a second in the closing stages of the game.

Jonathan Royle, who was one of Telford's best players on the day, pulled one back with a header in stoppage time but the hosts held on for a deserved victory.

Telford came into the game on the back of 2-0 wins over Darlington and Ramsbottom United. Meanwhile, the hosts had lost six of their last seven National League North games.

The visitors were happy to allow Harrogate to have the majority of possession in the opening period, which was short on chances for both sides.

Rob Smith's men were well-drilled, and solid when on the back foot, but there was not enough creativity in the final third as they looked to threat on the counter.

An attacking trio of Connor McCarthy, Josh Wilson and Elliott Hodge - signed on loan from Lincoln City - were eager to swap positions in an attempt to confuse the Harrogate defence.

The best effort the Bucks could manage though in the first 50 minutes was a long-range Wilson free-kick, which zipped wide of the post, and the home side went ahead shortly after.

After going close on a few occasions, they broke the deadlock in the 58th minute as Pittman got on the end of a low cross by James Cadman.

The Bucks sought a leveller but they were caught napping in the 86th minute as a quick counter attack saw the ball crossed to Pittman, who headed home from close range.

Almost out of nowhere, Royle pulled one back for the Bucks in stoppage time but it proved to be too little, too late as Harrogate won their first game since October 4.

As it happened...

15 - Harrogate have the first chance of the game. John-Paul Pittman plays in a good cross from the right and Nicky Clee heads over from an unmarked position at the back post.

18 - Telford goalkeeper James Montgomery makes a fine stop. Lloyd Kerry's well-weighted pass is met by Pittman and his volley from point-blank range is palmed away by Montgomery.

37 - Debutant Elliott Hodge is brought down and a free-kick is awarded in a promising area for Telford. Josh Wilson's delivery just evades the rising Paul McCone at the back post and goes out of play.

49 - Another free-kick for Telford, this one from around 30 yards out. Wilson opts to shoot and his rifled effort goes narrowly wide of the near post.

50 - The third decent opportunity of the game for Harrogate. Clee finds space on the left and his cross into the box meets Wayne Brooksby, who volleys the ball into the ground and over the bar.

54 - Montgomery makes another fine save to keep the scores at 0-0. Pittman's neat reverse pass finds Harrogate substitute James Cadman, whose low strike is stopped by the boot of the Bucks man.

58 - GOAL! The hosts go 1-0 up and it has been coming. Cadman plays a dangerous ball across the face of goal and Pittman lifts the ball over Montgomery and into the corner of the net.

86 - GOAL! Harrogate double their advantage. A sharp counter attack ends with Pittman, who has been very lively, nodding the ball home at the back post for his second of the game.

90 - GOAL! Telford pull one back, pretty much out of nowhere. A deep free-kick into the area finds the unmarked Jonathan Royle, who heads the ball past Chris Elliott and into the far corner.

Position in the table

14th (21 points from 20 games)

Teams

Harrogate XI (4-3-3): Elliott; Turner, Ainge (c), Thirlwell, Swain; Burrell, Kerry (Cadman, 45), Thanoj; Brooksby (Colbeck, 62), Pittman, Clee (Leesley, 76). Subs not used: Chilaka, Emmett.

Telford XI (4-3-3): Montgomery; Samuels (Bailey, 56), Havern (c), McCone, O'Hanlon; Rea (Fitzpatrick, 64), Royle, Kissock; Hodge (Reynolds, 69), McCarthy, Wilson. Subs not used: Kearns, Hibbert.