Dave Parker
BRIGHOUSE TOWN continued their unbeaten pre-season campaign with a 0-0 home draw against new Football League side Harrogate Town in the driving rain on Tuesday night.
After the opening ten minutes of the game sponsored by Home Improvements and Donovan Smith Opticians when the visitors did come at Town, it was a different kettle of fish as Vill Powell’s men settled down.
With Tom Haigh bossing the show, and head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch, Town did take the game to Harrogate and were unlucky with blocks and a great save from a cracking 20-yard angled Jack Boyle shot to not take a half-time lead.
Just prior to that shot Town lost frontman Alhassane Keita who was helped off with a knee injury.
In the second half both sides had their moments, but there was great defensive work all round. Town striker Joe Jagger had three rasping shots on target blocked as did Laurence Sorhaindo and Eli Hey.
Keita left the ground for Leeds General Infirmary for an assessment with manager Powell and his staff keeping their fingers crossed no serious damage had been caused to a player hitting form once more.
Town’s unbeaten run in the pre-season friendlies continued with a 3-2 home win over Scarborough Athletic in front of their first crowd of the season, albeit only the allowed 15% of their 1500 capacity-200.
Town took the lead on 17 minutes when Joe Jagger’s 25-yard thunderbolt free-kick slightly deflected off a visiting defender’s leg and rattled into the net. They could have a second four minutes later before Jagger made it 2-0 with a rocket of a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar off an a Eli Hey cross from the left. The two tall strikers were really making it uncomfortable for the Premier Division side,
On the stroke of half-time former Town and Goole wideman Piteu Cruz was brought down in the box and referee Henry Naylor pointed to the spot. Cruz dusted down and beat Matt Smith who dived the right way but was just inches off palming it clear.
Scarborough, who just edged the second half, equalised in the 70th minute when Halifax-based former Town man Nathan Cartman turned just outside the box and beat George Clarke who had taken over in goal.
However, Town, with subs Laurence Sohaindo, Alhassane Keita and Javelle Clarke enjoying some space, really turned the screw on the visitors to try and regain the lead. Lively ex-Sheffield Utd teenager Clarke latched on to a Keita ball and beat three men before curling the ball superbly past the Scarborough substitute keeper.Assistant manager Stacy Reed commented: “In pre-season we are looking at the level of performance from the players and from our first four pre-season friendlies we have had a very high level. We said before the game that it’s all about consistency now and can we keep those levels up? I thought we played some excellent stuff in the first half and should have had more goals with the chances we created.Second half Scarborough were the better team but we defended excellently again and got a great goal on the break. The pleasing thing is we have competition in all positions and this makes a strong squad who will all push each other.”
Following the game, Town re-signed French Guinea striker Keita for a second season and now showing the form that made him such a target last autumn.
On Friday, Town travel to Penistone Church (7.30) for what is their now annual friendly again st the NCEL Premier Division side and then a week on Saturday, September 5 entertain Handsworth Parramore (3.0) when they will be allowed 400 spectators in the Yorkshire Payments Stadium.
In the meantime Town fans were delighted for their former Huddersfield Town loanee midfield player Tim Akinola who has signed a contract with Arsenal following his release from the Championship club.
Akinola, who was with Town in the 2018-19 season, has gone straight into training with the Premier League club’s U23 side.
