IN A week in which many matches were postponed in the Flexible Football West Riding County FA Under-21 Floodlit League, the benefits of having a 4G pitch could be seen as leaders Harrogate Town were able top play visitors Brighouse Town.

Brighouse took the game to Harrogate, pressing them high up the pitch and creating two or three good chances.

Eventually the visitors' pressure told and they went 1-0 up courtesy of Jack Normanton, who netted with a powerful volley following a flick-on by Warren Hildred.

Late in the half a long, hopeful ball from Harrogate resulted in a goal, even though the visitors claimed that three of the home players were offside.

This setback unsettled Brighouse for the rest of the half, and a by-now dominant Harrogate took a 2-1 lead into the interval.

The hosts were looking like leaders now and made it 3-1, but Brighouse rallied, with Normanton netting a penalty after he had been fouled.

The visitors then dominated the last 15 minutes but could not get an equaliser.

Brighouse's assistant manager Barry Thomas said: "Everyone present agreed that our young team gave a fantastic display and at least deserved a draw but, as we all know, this game we love can be so cruel and you do not always get what you deserve."