HARROGATE Town gave the visiting contingent from Doncaster Rovers plenty to think about after a typically hard-working display in the 3-0 West Riding FA County Cup second round victory over neighbours Harrogate Railway last night.

Doncaster boss Steve Wignall was among the crowd at Wetherby Road to assess Town's performance ahead of their FA Trophy third round tie on Saturday.

And he must have been impressed as Town - playing Railway for the first time since 1993 - dampened their opponents' burning passion to chisel out the win.

Admittedly this was Northern Counties East League Railway's first game in a month, and they were facing a side top of the UniBond League first division who have conceded only four league goals on their own turf.

In fact, the result could have been so different had Steve Davey opted to square the ball across to the unmarked Ian Hart instead of trying to round Town 'keeper Ashley Connor in the first minute.

However, Town stamped their authority on the match with first-half strikes from Robbie Whellans and Iain Dunn.

Rail had the chance to make it 2-1 at the break, but somehow Mark Watkinson could only find Connor when it looked easier to score from five yards out.

Both sides, with bigger fish to fry, made a host of substitutions as the game petered out. However, Craig Elliott made the game safe with the simplest of tap ins after some unselfish play from Scott Bonsall.

Updated: 12:06 Wednesday, January 09, 2002