Harrogate 3 Gateshead 2

For a pre-season fixture, this was a proper game of footy! Gateshead have spent heavily over the summer to bolster their strike force - they are targeting 100 goals next season and their signing of Danny Johnson from Cardiff and Ryan Bowman from Torquay (not picked last night) is a sign of their intent. From the start we matched them in intensity (Luke Shiels and Dave McGurk especially impressive against a difficult sunlight in the first half). I thought Kerry showed up well again in midfield but naturally the big difference was Dom Knowles - he struck up an instant partnership with Paul Clayton and it is clear that defenders hate his pace and willingness to take them on, play off the shoulder and pounce in the box.

Hard to see Speight having much of a role to play at all with Clayton, Knowles and Thewlis on board + Gascoigne a week or two away from full training
Good news that Fallowfield might be back a bit earlier than forecast
Jack Emmett ill?

Great performance and result last night, back four exposed to Johnson's pace twice - for their two goals - but overall, some genuine coherence in our football and the team seem to have a good relationship with the vocal fans!

Was a great match last night as you say. Knowles showed that he has got the ability to be even better by hand the first time round.

Super Jack is recovering from glandular fever which he got last month so a few weeks away from proper training and would think 6 to 8 weeks away from playing. Can't wait to see him back.

Speight to railway. ......Starbeck station and a one way ticket out of town.

Certainly looks like the team is showing more.....well...team ethic than the shambles of last early season.

good to see the entry coming down too. We'll done htfc.

For a pre-season fixture, that was a very, very good game of football.

There seemed to be a level of calmness, discipline, control and intensity about how we played that I've never seen before, and it has just confirmed my opinion that if we made the addition of a Striker (Knowles) and a back up GK for Crook (Garforth keeper I believe) that we are a playoffs team. There is no requirement for any future signings, in my opinion.

Based on the Leeds and Gateshead performances I have seen, if we can perform like that on a consistent basis, then I really fancy our chances this season to upset the applecart.

As much as I moan against the current ownership, it is evident that we have a very strong team this season and the new stand looks outstanding. The only thing I'm guarding against is being complacent because of the promise of last season, but I'm sure Simon has learnt his lesson there.

Hard to disagree with anything above. A really great game of football, regardless of the result, played at great pace, and pretty competitive. 5 really good goals too, and 3 were ours! It really does look promising for the 'real thing', Knowles can only make a major difference to our goal scoring potential. When everyone is fit (Fallowfield, Gascoigne, Emmett), there are going to be some seriously good players on the bench: I mean how do you choose 2 out Shiels, McGurk and Ellis as centre backs? Not a choice I would like to make. Colbeck could be a real game changer this season, and I thought Kerry looked pretty good as well.

We have had so many disappointments that I am trying really hard to contain myself, but I agree with Neil, we might, just might have the makings of a play off team here.

If we perform like they did the other night, on a consistent basis then the results will look after themselves, but I am also a realist and do understand that we wont win every week.

However, saying that, when the team suffers from a negative result, then as long as they have put in that level of performance and left it all on the pitch, then I personally, wont look too much into it.

York will be an interesting indication of how we are developing, because I believe they will play a full strength side. Can't see them risking a beating by the non-league neighbours.

All I have ever wanted is a team that gives it their all, bust's their arses and earns the right to wear a town shirt. There are lots of really good squads in this league now so we will lose a few but if they give it their all we can't really grumble moving forward.

It's early doors but I sensed we were in trouble preseason last year despite all the noise. This time, it looks promising. Pumped for the season now.