Radcliffe BoroM-I3, Harrogate TownM-I2

RADCLIFFE Borough completed a magnificent comeback against Harrogate Town on Saturday to pick up their second league win of the season.

Amazingly, Boro found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline at half time. Harrogate only really had two chances but, unlike Boro, whose tally must have been nearer double figures, they made use of them when first Steve Perrin and then Andy Lawson scored against the run of play.

Manager Kevin Glendon had decided on a three-pronged attack and the change gave Boro more options up front. Tony Carroll was able to drift out to the right and the superb Joe Connor probed the left wing with Paul Allen staying more or less central.

In between the two goals Boro had chances to equalise as they piled on the pressure. Tony Carroll had an effort pushed onto the outside of the post by visiting 'keeper Adam Smith and Alex Jones had a header cleared off the line from one of a succession of corners. Most important for Boro was to grab an early goal in the second half and it came from impressive centre-back Andy Thorpe after Smith had flapped at a Steven Eyres corner.

With 20 minutes remaining Connor, who started well and just got better as the game went on, powered his way down the left wing and crossed for Carroll. For once though, his header didn't find the target. Instead the ball came back off the underside of the crossbar and it was left for Paul Allen to head home the rebound.

The game was set up for a brilliant finish - and the fans were not disappointed. Both teams had chances to win it, but the final twist came in the last minute of the match when Carroll was blatantly shoved in the back in the Harrogate box as he was about to rise for a header at goal

The referee pointed to the spot and Carroll, knowing he'd missed his last effort against Trafford, dusted himself down before despatching the decisive kick to send the Boro faithful into raptures.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.