Harrogate 1 - 7 Pumpkins (390088279)

Weather conditions were fairly good for football, and Town Arena saw a crowd turnout of 6246. Jalmari Taalikka was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kurt Piontek and Rony Kernen. Harrogate decided to use a 4-4-2 set up. Starters: DeVane - Ailincăi, Hauska, Benkhattab, Weissengruber - Penchev, Comunian, Fernandes, Franco - Mair, Granbalagh.

Pumpkins started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Fuentes Albar - Knežević, Stypuła, Pajović - Romero Mallo, Dams, Beune, Roussel, Vrzáček - Gillet, Arrufat.

The strategy for Harrogate was to use their ability to press. Pumpkins were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. There was concern in the stands when, at the 3 minute mark, Pumpkins's J. Roussel hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. F. Comunian showed his inexperience when he failed to anticipate the bounce of a high ball, allowing Pumpkins's J. Dams to take advantage and place a shot into the bottom corner of the goal. 0 - 1. With 12 minutes played, I. Penchev of Harrogate fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. Pumpkins increased their lead after 22 minutes when J. Gillet broke through on the right, upping the score to 0 - 2, much to the home crowd's dismay. A drive down the left side allowed D. Arrufat to get in close and score another goal for Pumpkins after 29 minutes, taking the score to 0 - 3. It was 0 - 3 at the break. Pumpkins had most of the ball, with 69 percent of possession.

K. Romero Mallo hit the corner kick straight to the keeper, but it was mishandled, giving Pumpkins's J. Gillet an easy chance to knock it in for 0 - 4. After 62 minutes, Pumpkins's J. Dams burst through the central defence and let loose a cannonball of a shot, scoring for 0 - 5. By now, the players in Pumpkins felt that victory was guaranteed and began to play it safe, focusing on defence and not risking too much going forward. The situation leading to Harrogate's penalty 66 minutes into the match will be much debated after the game ends, but the competent G. Granbalagh didn't hesitate to make the score 1 - 5. B. Weissengruber tried to get a goal back for Harrogate but despite all his hard work down the right, he just couldn't complete the move. A scuffle developed as players from both sides clashed following a tussle in the centre of the field 77 minutes into the match. After regaining order and consulting his linesman, the referee called Pumpkins's J. Beune to one side and produced a red card for the player. A penalty was awarded after 81 minutes, and L. Vrzáček made the most of his chance to put Pumpkins up by another goal. 1 - 6 for the visitors. The home crowd was not impressed when J. Dams came in from the right, shooting hard to score after 82 minutes. Pumpkins were now up 1 - 7. That was his third goal of the match - a hat trick for J. Dams. The home crowd cheered when, after 85 minutes, L. Vrzáček's charge up the middle resulted in the keeper making one of his best saves of the day. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Pumpkins, with 68 percent of the ball.

Most important Harrogate player was G. Granbalagh. However, S. Benkhattab made a disastrous appearance. Pumpkins's top performer was clearly L. Vrzáček. D. Pajović turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 7.