HARROGATE Town were anything but a Sunday football team as they professionally turned round a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win to get the New Year off to a cracking start at Bradford Park Avenue yesterday.

Two second half goals from Marc Smith steered Town to victory in their first Sunday match in more than five years to keep them in the top three at the start of 2005.

But the Nationwide North win may have come at a cost after Lee Philpott was replaced on five minutes by Colin Hunter, who was in turn taken off eight minutes into the second half with veteran striker Ian Blackstone standing in.

Hosts Bradford took advantage of Town's slow-starting trend to go one up on 12 minutes through a Danny Walsh strike from the edge of the area.

But, while home keeper Andy Britton was forced into making saves from Smith, Danny Holland and Mark Barnard, the equaliser did not come for Town until the 68th minute, when Smith powerfully headed a Barnard cross home, following up with a sweet volleyed winner nine minutes later.

Claims for a penalty to put the game beyond doubt on 81 minutes fell on deaf ears when a foul on substitute Lee Morris was adjudged outside of the area.

Northern Counties Premier Division leaders Harrogate Railway were hosting mid-tablers Liversedge in their quest this afternoon to carve out a comfortable lead at the top of the promotion chase.

Second-placed Selby Town were visiting Brodsworth Welfare, fourth-placed Pickering Town were taking their campaign to lowly Glasshoughton Welfare, and Armthorpe Welfare were heading to third-placed Goole.

Updated: 08:57 Monday, January 03, 2005