DRAMA followed crisis in Harrogate Town's FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Salford City before the North Yorkshire side emerged victorious 3-2.

During the match, which was delayed for 40 minutes, two ambulances were called to take players to hospital following separate incidents.

A player was sent off, another player was carried off and three players were booked.

The first 999 call for an ambulance was made in the 11th minute when Salford's striker Tony Carroll went down injured after a clash of heads with a Harrogate defender.

The match was stopped for five minutes while he underwent treatment. He was taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from concussion.

But just as the first ambulance was arriving for Carroll Salford's Rob Kelly stumbled on to the pitch while preparing to take a throw-in in the 21st minute.

He collapsed in pain after apparently catching his foot in a divot. A second 999 call was made for an ambulance while a member of the first crew gave treatment to Kelly, who was later given an oxygen mask.

The injuries delayed the match for 40 minutes and it was later reported Kellyr had suffered a suspected broken ankle.

Later in the first half Salford's Matt Hughes was booked following an incident involving Harrogate's Scott Bonsall. And minutes later Hughes was sent off after a clash with former Ripon City player Michael Ord.

But the first half drama continued when Bonsall himself was carried off the pitch following a rival challenge.

The match, which should have finished at 4.45pm ended after 5.30pm, but amid all the drama five goals were scored to.

Harrogate took the lead on 26 minutes through Robbie Whellans before former Darlington player Steve Ball doubled their advantage in the 35th minute then Whellan's added a third just before the break.

Salford battled back in the second-half to score twice through Karl Margison in the 48th and 86th minutes but Town held on and now face fellow UniBond League side Burscough in the next round.

Selby Town's unbeaten start to the season ended when they went down 2-0 in the FA Cup to Unibond League side Gretna at Flaxley Road.

Two goals in the last ten minutes did for the Robins, who would have picked up a £7,500 cash bonanza if they had emerged victorious.

Gretna made a lively start but the Robins gradually got into the game with former Hull City junior Dexter Tucker going close to opening the scoring.

Early in the second half Selby lost Richard Tomlinson through injury and Gretna took control.

Skipper Mark Dobie scored for the visitors in the 79th minute and then wrapped the game up in the 86th minute when he curled in a superb shot from 20 yards.

Fellow Northern Counties East League outfit Harrogate Railway maintained their hopes of a place in the second-qualifying round - and of picking up the big cash incentive - as they came back from behind against Winsford United to force a replay.

Dave Lowe had opened the scoring for the North-West Counties League visitors on 70 minutes before Ian McLean's 82nd minute equaliser ensured the sides must do it again.

Also living to fight another day are Pickering Town, who remain unbeaten this season after fighting out a 1-1 draw with Crook Town.

The Pikes were leading through Stefan Zoll's goal with just ten minutes remaining only for Steven Roberts to snatch an equaliser for Crook.

With their rivals on FA Cup duty, Goole Town missed out on the chance of some vital NCEL points when they lost 3-1 at Denaby United.

Goole, who last week sacked manager Peter Daniel, fell behind on 20 minutes to a goal from Adrian Pack only for Andy Flounders to restore parity before the break.

However, an Andy Hammond second-half brace sealed the win for Denaby.

Tadcaster Albion were on the wrong end of a 4-0 hammering at Worsbrough Bridge despite the match being goalless at half-time.

Andy Hibbert started the scoring on 50 minutes before Phil Taylor claimed a hat-trick for Bridge.

West Yorkshire League outfit Knaresborough Town also enjoyed cup success at the weekend.

Town trounced Spa Athletic 6-1 in the first round of the Harrogate and District FA Whitworth Cup.

Back in the WYL, Nestle Rowntree went down 3-1 at home to Mount St Mary's to complete a rare hat-trick of successive defeats for Trees.

In Division One, York RI shared the spoils and four goals at East End Park.

Updated: 11:32 Monday, September 17, 2001