Harrogate Town 1 Mansfield Town 0 - Aaron Martin sparks double celebrations

Simon Weaver’s team followed up November’s 1-0 away success over the Stags with another victory by the same scoreline at a blustery Wetherby Road.

There wasn’t much by way of quality on display, but Aaron Martin did produce one moment of magic in the opening seconds of the second half to decide the contest and seal improving Harrogate’s third triumph in four home outings.

Town custodian James Belshaw produced two good saves from Ollie Clarke to keep the hosts on terms during the opening half hour, while Josh March was denied by Mansfield stopper Aidan Stone at the other end.

A game that had been so desperately lacking in quality for 45 minutes was then suddenly lit up by a moment of class barely 10 seconds after the restart when Ryan Sweeney made a mess of a defensive header and Martin volleyed home from the edge of the box.

Almost the entirety of the remainder of the match was played in Stags territory, and although Mansfield did ask a few questions of the home defence late on, they never really looked like nicking an undeserved equaliser.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw; Burrell, Smith, Hall, Francis (Jones 71); Power (Kerry 63), Thomson, Falkingham, McPake; Martin, March. Unused substitutes: Minter, Fallowfield.

Mansfield Town: Stone; Perch, Rawson, Sweeney, McLaughlin (Benning 46); Maris (Sinclair 85), Clarke, Law (Quinn 74) ; Charsley (Gordon 56), Bowery, Reid. Unused substitutes: Stech, O’Driscoll, Sarkic.

Referee: R Joyce (Cleveland).

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