Harrogate Town 0-0 Guiseley: Honours even in Yorkshire derby

Town included new signings Paul Clayton and Ryan Fallowfield in their starting line up,while another new signing,Jordan Thewlis was on the subs bench.

Both Clayton and Fallowfield were prominent in early Town attacks,while at the other end,Guiseley’s

Ben Parker cleared the new stand with a wild shot.

A foul by Andy Holdsworth on James Walshaw presented Town with a free kick in a dangerous area but Steve Drench made a diving block from Walshaw’s effort.

Town were matching high flying Guiseley and it took a sliding tackle from Danny Lowe to end a strong Clayton run.

Oli Johnson created an opening for Gavin Rothery but Fallowfield was on hand to clear the danger,while Phil Barnes had to make a good save from Adam Boyes.

A superb chest down and shot on the turn by Walshaw forced Drench into conceding a corner which the visiting defence only cleared as far as Lloyd Kerry,whose shot inside the near post was blocked on the line.

The second half started with Parker needing a lengthy spell of treatment for a facial injury,after which Town pushed forward strongly.

Drench was at full stretch to keep out a Kerry free kick and Walshaw headed the resulting corner over the bar.

Kerry was again soon in the thick of the action when he provided the pass for Louis Swain to cut in from the right and curl a shot just wide of the far post.

Good approach play from Guiseley floundered on the rock like home defence in which Luke Shiels was outstanding,although Dave McGurk received a yellow card for a meaty tackle on sub Alex Johnson.

Lowe blocked a piledriver from Fallowfield,and Craig Nelthorpe’s centre found Adam Nowakowski but his shot lacked power as Town pushed forward.

Jordan Thewlis replaced Swain to put new life into Town’s attacks and he could have snatched a late winner with a strong run into the Guiseley defence,but he delayed his shot and the Lions were able to clear.