George Thomson rewards Harrogate Town’s patience

The 28-year-old midfielder netted one in each half as the Sulphurites recovered from an early setback at Boundary Park.

Hosts Oldham took an 19th-minute lead, against the run of play, when Conor McAleny converted from the penalty spot after Davis Keillor-Dunn went down in the box following slight contact from Warren Burrell.

Harrogate saw plenty of chances come and go both before and after the Latics broke the deadlock, but would eventually open their account for the afternoon on the half-hour-mark.

And it was Thomson who finally got the better of the inspired Ian Lawlor, unleashing a precise first-time finish from the edge of the penalty area when Jack Muldoon helped Aaron Martin’s flick-on into his path.

Oldham were reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time as a result of Bobby Grant’s elbow on Jake Lawlor, and Town went on to make the most of their numerical advantage after the interval.

Thomson cut in from the right-hand side of the box and lashed a left-footed effort into the far corner of the Athletic goal.

And, for Harrogate’s match-winner, patience was key to completing Saturday’s turnaround for the visitors.

“When their lad got sent off in the first half it was important that we took advantage of that and made sure we won the game,” Thomson said.

Oldham: Lawlor, Jombati (Garrity 46), Clarke, Piergianni, Borthwick-Jackson, Ntambwe, Bahamboula (Dearnley 66), McCalmont (Barnett 82), Keillor-Dunn (Whelan 82), McAleny (Fage 46), Grant. Unused substitutes: Bilboe, Hamer.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Fallowfield, Lawlor, Hall, Burrell, Thomson, Francis (Kerry 90), Kirby (Falkingham 72), Kiernan, Martin, Muldoon. Unused substitutes: Cracknell, Stead, Miller, Lokko.

Referee: B Speedie (Liverpool).

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