Harrogate beat Hartlepool to end barren run

Posted Saturday, January 19, 2019 by PA

Harrogate eased to a first National League win in six games with a 3-1 victory at home to Hartlepool.

They opened the scoring after just four minutes when Michael Raynes’ attempted clearance ricocheted into the path of Lloyd Kerry and his close-range shot went in off the knee of goalkeeper Scott Loach.

The home side were awarded a penalty five minutes later after Carl Magnay was penalised for a shirt-pull, but George Thomson’s kick was superbly saved by Loach.

Nicke Kabamba, one of three debutants for Hartlepool, brought a fine save from James Belshaw with a powerful header shortly afterwards and Raynes headed over from a corner.

Jack Muldoon thumped in a second for Harrogate early in the second half after Nicky Featherstone dwelt on the ball, but Hartlepool got one back when Kabamba turned home from close in after 57 minutes.

Harrogate made it 3-1 in the 68th minute when Muldoon broke clear down the left and sent over a cross for Mark Beck to loop in a header off the crossbar.

Jake Cassidy was not too far away from a second for Hartlepool, while Kerry was denied his second goal of the game at the death.