In a game which saw the Blues start with ten players, then have eleven for about 35 minutes and finally finish with ten Frickley did well in difficult circumstances to come back from 2 goals down to finish with a draw. The Blues started with ten men as Chris Hilton, Mark Wilkinson, Gary Duffty and Lee Stratford, who were all due to start the game, were all travelling in one car and got stuck in traffic following an accident and finally arrived around 20 minutes after kick off. This forced Steve Richards to start with all three of his subs with Stratford joining the action after 25 minutes to make the numbers up. The Blues were already without Leroy Chambers and Andy Gregory who were both cup-tied.

Kicking down the slope the opening exchanges saw the Blues test the Town defence with Steve Price's left wing corner in the first minute being punched from under the bar by the Harrogate keeper. Town took the lead with their first serious attack on 11 minutes when a goalbound header from a corner was blocked and Nevis followed up to score from close range. On 28 minutes the home side extended their lead when a misunderstanding between Andy Carney and his defence let in Elliott to score into an open goal from just inside the box. Now buoyed with the introduction of Stratford to make it 11 against 11 the Blues forced a few chances of their own. First Ian Edge turned a defender on the right and sent over a cross which Phil Brown collected on the far side of the box. As he tried to beat his man he was brought down but the referee waved away claims for a penalty. The loose ball then fell to Brendan West who turned and shot but his effort was deflected wide. Then Price's 30 yard free-kick was half blocked by the wall but the ball fell to Graham Lewis just 5 yards out. He connected well but the Town keeper pulled off a brilliant save to deny him. Just before half time Town almost scored a third when their No.11 attempted an overhead kick which beat Carney but rebounded to safety off the post.

At half time Richards made a few changes, bringing on Duffty and Hilton for McAreavey and Smith and the team looked more organised. Ten minutes into the half Edge picked up an overhit cross by Lewis on the left and cut into the box but his final shot from 12 yards was straight at the keeper. Just minutes later Edge was involved again but for all the wrong reasons. A cross from the Harrogate left had eluded Carney leaving just Edge and a Harrogate player to challenge for the ball in front of an open goal but Edge blatantly pushed the Town player, thus conceding a penalty and receiving his marching orders as well. Fortunately the penalty was put well side of the target. The miss was to prove costly as on 62 minutes Town failed to deal with a corner properly and LEWIS seized on the chance to fire the ball into the net from five yards. Two minutes later Duffty sent LEWIS clear and, despite a bad bobble from the pitch almost forcing him to over-run the ball he steered it just beyond the advancing keeper into the net. Town responded with Carney being forced to tip over a 20 yarder by their No. 9 but neither side really created any more clear cut opportunities.

Frickley Athletic : Carney, Fox, West, Brown, Stratford(after 25 mins), Hanby, Lewis, Price, McAreavey (Duffty 45), Smith (Hilton 45), Edge. Unused subs. Mark Wilkinson

Attendance : 135