Harrogate & District FA have been drawn in a group which includes:- Bradford FA, Goole & Thorne FA, Keighley FA and Wharfedale FA.

 

Our two home games this season are against Bradford on Sunday 1 November 2009 at Knaresborough Town with a 1.30pm kick off and against Goole and Thorne on 7 March 2010 at Harrogate Railway also with a 1.30pm kick off.

 

 

The Harrogate FA Representative side played their first game in the West Riding County Minor Cup competition against Bradford FA at Manse Lane and were successful in winning 3-1. Harrogate dominated the early stages and midway through the first half took the lead through Sam Hashmi but the Bradford Captain and County rep David Boote was outstanding at the back and marshalled his team extremely well.  As expected the early stages of the second half saw Bradford forcing the game to Harrogate but within 10 minutes of the restart Harrogate were 2-0 up when Brandan Irving caught the Bradford defenders on the break.  Kieran Glennon was then fouled in the penalty area and with 30 minutes still to play Harrogate were leading 3-0 when Captain Jordan Hart scored the subsequent penalty.  However, the Bradford FA players never gave up and scored a consolation goal with almost the last kick of the game.
 
A special thank you to Knaresborough Town for allowing us to use their pitch and facilities for this game. 

 

Wharfedale FA 1 - 9 Harrogate & District FA

 

The Harrogate FA representative side returned to action after a number of postponements to play their second game in the West Riding Minor Cup competition at Pool against Wharfedale FA. Both teams came to the game unbeaten with Wharfedale winning their first two games and Harrogate FA having won their only game against Bradford FA.  Harrogate FA started very strongly and within five minutes a Blaine Hobson free kick was not cleared properly by the Wharefdale defenders and some good follow up work by Sam Kellegher led to a tap-in by Captain Jordan Hart. Sam Kellegher was then brought down by the Wharefdale keeper and Jordan Hart scored the subsequent penalty.  Within 15 minutes it was 3-0 with Sam Kellegher scoring the third.  Harrogate continued to dominate and by half-time were winning 7-0 after two goals from Brandon Iriving, one by Gavin Trotman and a second goal for Sam Kellegher which capped a fantastic first half performance. Wharfedale reorganised for the second half but Brandon Irving completed his hat-trick before Wharefdale scored a penalty.  Gavin Trotman scored his second and Harrogate's ninth goal with 10 minutes left to play. 

 

 Harrogate & District FA 9 - 0 Goole & Thorne FA

 

Harrogate FA hosted Goole & Thorne FA at Station View in the West Riding Minor Cup competition without influential captain Jordan Hart but the remainder of the team were those that had done so well away at Wharfedale last week. Harrogate dominated the early play but after 15 minutes the Goole goalkeeper had to be replaced after he collided with the goal post preventing a Blaine Hobson free kick from giving Harrogate the lead. After a delay of 10 minutes, Harrogate resumed their good play and a team effort left Brandon Irving a tap-in to make it 1-0 and a few minutes later Blaine Hobson made it 2-0 and then added a third from a free kick. Kieran Glennon made it 4-0 to Harrogate before half-time.  In the second half, Harrogate continued to dominate with Lyle MacFarlane scoring a hat-trick, Gavin Trotman capped a great performance with a goal and Matt Wills completed the scoring.  The final result was 9-0 to Harrogate FA.

 

 

Harrogate FA played their final group stage game at Keighley FA knowing that they had already won the group and will be playing in the Minor Cup semi-finals at County HQ.  Jordan Hart and Gavin Trotman were both missing from the squad but the conditions and the pitch were great for football. The early stages were even with neither team dominating but after 26 minutes Chris Donoghue scored with a left foot shot just inside the box after some good from a number of players and within two minutes of the restart, Lyle MacFarlane made it 2-0.  Harrogate continued to press but the Keighley representative team kept working hard and had a number of attempt themselves. Then with 10 minutes of the first half remaining Kieran Glennon was brought down in the box and Brandon Irving scored the subsequent penalty.  3-0 to Harrogate FA at half-time and the the second half continued in a similar vain with Harrogate dominating, but the Keighley team worked hard for each other and never gave up the cause.  However, Sam Kellegher added a fourth after a great cross from Matt Wills and then Lyle MacFarlane scored his second and Harrogate's fifth goal with 15 minutes still to play.  Final score 5-0 to Harrogate FA.

 

 

The Harrogate FA Under-17 side played the Huddersfield FA representative side at the County ground with both teams unbeaten and a place in the final of the West Riding Minor Cup for the winners.  Harrogate started very positively and had a number of chances to take the lead before Lyle MacFarlane scored after 14 minutes to give Harrogate a 1-0 lead.  However, 4 minutes later Harrogate had to reorganise after full back, Sam Hashmi had to go off with a dislocated shoulder, but they did not allow this to disrupt some good football and quickly adapted to keep the pressure on Huddersfield.  A second goal was looking likely and it eventualy came in the 33rd minute when after some good team play, Sam Kellegher found MacFarlane who broke free to score his second goal.  Harrogate dominated the final part of the first half, but a third goal would not come.  In the second half Huddersfield raised their tempo and became more assertive without really forcing Craig MacGillivray in the Harrogate goal to make a save.  Despite spending large parts of the second half defending Harrogate still had the better chances to finish the game.  With 15 minutes still to play MacFarlane broke through the Huddersfield defence and when looking likely to shoot was brought down by a Huddersfield defender.  The referee was left with no option but to send the Huddersfield player off and with it any realistic chance that they had of getting back in to the game.  Harrogate continued to attack but the final score remained 2-0 to Harrogate FA. 

The County Cup final is at the County ground on Thursday 22nd of April against Leeds FA who defeated Wharfedale FA 6 - 0 in the other semi final..