The baked playing surface and swirling Westerly wind made control of the ball more difficult for both teams.
Brigg scored the opening goal after only a couple of minutes of play. Alfie Usher and Martin Pembleton combined neatly on the left wing working the ball to the edge of the penalty area before the latter was fouled. Harrogate defended with a seven man wall lined up in position to block a strike at goal but Martin Pembleton‘s well-drilled shot got through to the corner of the net giving the home team a great start.
Harrogate reacted immediately and were back on level terms after five minutes.
First they won a left-wing corner when the ball was deflected out of play but this struck the side netting. Following up with another smart left-wing attack, a great ball was played across into the penalty area for Joe Crosby to get a defining touch to direct it into the corner of Tom Collins’ goal.
Lawrence Heward was penalised for a foul committed on the Harrogate right wing but Dan McDaid’s delivery was headed clear for a corner kick before being cleared from the goal area.
After the opening ten minutes, the game hit a quiet period of play with both teams enjoying an equal share of possession but unable to create clear openings. The Rail team were comfortable defending with five players in the back line and looking for the opportunity of sharp counter attacks.
After half an hour of play, Alfie Usher worked his way past three markers on the left to send a telling cross into the penalty area for Scott Phillips to try an elaborate overhead kick shot at goal but the ball went out over the touchline. Martin Pembleton and Scott Phillips were next to threaten in a counter-attacking move but Rail defended comfortably again and set up an attack on their right-wing with a final ball played across the home team goal area but without a finishing touch.
Then they won a free kick from the halfway line which they worked for a left-wing corner kick which was headed clear by the home defence. As half-time approached Jack Richardson made a direct run down the middle of the pitch from Alfie Usher’s pass but ended up striking the ball wide of the upright.
Brigg began the second half with a long-range shot from Martin Pembleton flying over Joe Wilton’s crossbar. Rail’s response earned two quick corner kicks but with the fairly strong wind against them in the second period, these were comfortably cleared.
Another shot from Martin Pembleton was well saved to finish up wide of the goal whilst for Rail, Dan McDaid’s twenty-five yard effort was also off target. After losing the ball on Harrogate’s right wing, a good recovering tackle regained possession to remove any threat but in their last attack, Elliot Holmes drove another shot over the Brigg crossbar.
At the final whistle, a draw was a fair result but means that Brigg have now dropped six points from their three opening home games and all by the same score.
On Tuesday evening they travel to Wakefield AFC, who have made an impressive start to their league campaign. They follow this with an F.A. Vase home fixture against Runcorn next Saturday afternoon.