Harrogate Town 2, York City 1

THIS was the first official fixture on Harrogate Town's newly installed third generation (3G) artificial pitch and ideal preparation for York City ahead of the trip to Maidstone United – who also play on 3G – in the opening game of the National League season.

However, manager Jackie McNamara had already made arrangements for York to train on the pitch again next week, so the majority of his senior players were rested after playing against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.

His young side struggled to cope with the physicality and power of National League North promotion hopefuls Harrogate, and City duly suffered a fourth defeat in five public appearances this pre-season.

Reece Thompson had put the visitors ahead but goals from Jordan Robertson and Andi Thanoj secured victory for the home side.

Only defender Jack Higgins started for the second night in a row, while winger Danny Nti started after playing 30 minutes against Doncaster as a substitute.

Interestingly, Higgins had passed on the captain's role to the fit-again Matty Fry.

No-one is yet guaranteed a shirt against Maidstone, so it was still an opportunity for some to push claims, including striker Richard Brodie whose involvement has been limited since returning to the club this summer.

Brodie needed lengthy treatment on 16 minutes after twisting on the halfway line and limped off at half-time. Winger Kane Felix was also checked by the physio following a yellow card challenge by Town full back Louie Swain.

Thompson put City ahead in the 21st minute, exchanging passes with Brodie before advancing and slotting the ball past goalkeeper Peter Crook.

But the lead lasted just four minutes as former Sheffield United striker Robertson headed Town level.

By comparison with York's other pre-season games, this fixture was a far more niggly affair – Harrogate looked intent on ruffling feathers against higher league local rivals – and both Luke Shiels and Tom Platt joined Swain in the referee's notebook before half-time.

Higgins limped off for City and Brodie was booked for a foul on Simon Ainge. McNamara, not surprisingly, expressed disapproval towards referee Gareth Rhodes.

Academy player Aaron Brettell replaced Higgins in the back three and Brodie was replaced, at the interval, by young striker Nick Kennedy.

Dominic Knowles, a constant threat for Harrogate, was unlucky not to score on more than one occasion after finding space in and around the York area.

In a change from recent games, McNamara did not employ two holding midfielders (there was no Simon Heslop or Clovis Kamdjo), preferring instead to let Franklyn Clarke do the holding job on his own.

That may have been designed to match up with Town's formation but it also gave midfielder Matty Dixon licence to push forward.

Whatever the reason, York still lacked creativity going forward, a problem that will have to be addressed.

Town nearly took the lead on 56 minutes when Thanoj's freekick rattled the crossbar. Former City player Platt then headed narrowly over the bar as the home side increased the pressure.

Thanoj put Town ahead after being handed a second opportunity to try his luck with a deadball from 25 yards. Dixon had committed the foul and Thanoj curled the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Luke Simpson.

With his young side clearly struggling to cope, McNamara sent on Kyle Trainter, another Academy player, to play at left wing-back and moved Clarke – the oldest City player, at 23, still on the pitch – into the centre of defence.

Town, beaten semi-finalists in last season's National League North play-offs, could now enjoy their dominance and substitute Chib Chilaka hit the woodwork in the closing stages.

Ultimately, this had been far from a 'friendly' game and the result will not look good on paper. However, the age of York's youthful side was a significant factor in this result and should not be ignored.

York: Simpson; Walton, Higgins (Brettell 39) Fry (Trainter 68); Clarke; Felix (Wardle 73), Dixon (Fielding 87), Galbraith, Nti (Freer 77); Brodie (Kennedy HT), Thompson. Substitutes not used: Wilton.

Harrogate: Crook; Turner (Colbeck 85), Ainge, Shiels, Swain; Kerry (Emmett 78), Thanoj, Platt (Leesley 69); Knowles (Chilaka 69); Robertson (Pitman 69), Gascoigne (Burrell 78). Substitutes not used: Ellis, Purkiss.

Referee: G Rhodes

Attendance: 761