Harrogate Town manager John Reed launched a blistering attack on his players after Saturday's UniBond League premier division 2-0 home defeat to Gainsborough Trinity - and he apologised to fans who paid to watch it.

The Town boss was left fuming after the worst display of the season at Wetherby Road included a red card for Neil Aspin and two soft goals.

Reed said: "I can only apologise to all the supporters that came and paid to get in because it was a very very poor performance.

"Out of ten, I'd give them none."

A poor back pass from captain Simon Sturdy was snaffled up by Gareth Grant for an easy opener with the second coming from a hotly disputed free kick.

Trinity striker Lee Ellington looked to have clearly handled the ball deep in Harrogate's half, but the referee awarded the resulting free-kick to the visitors. Ellington made the most of the opportunity and curled the ball into the top corner.

Minutes later, former-Darlington man Aspin lost his cool and scythed down Grant for a straight red.

Reed must now lift his team before the crunch visit of league leaders Hucknall Town on Saturday with hopes of a title win fading fast.

He added: "I will not give up until we are ten points behind with three games to go. We have made it difficult for ourselves but I'm a firm believer that a winner never quits and a quitter never wins and hopefully, so are the players."

Selby Town escaped a last minute defeat at Buxton when the linesman ruled out a late Ian Askey winner for the Bucks due to offside.

An own goal had put Buxton ahead before Selby pegged them back to 1-1 in the top five Northern Counties East League premier division clash.

James Featherstone was the saint turned sinner at Goole for Harrogate Railway after being sent off minutes after scoring the opener in the 2-2 draw.

Featherstone netted the first after 11 minutes but was sent for an early bath minutes later after punching Nigel Danby.

But despite his moment of petulance, Rail boss Martin Haresign said his team were unlucky to get all three points.

"Before the game, we would have been happy with a point," he said. "But if we had played with 11 men, we probably would have taken all three points.

"We were disappointed with that but in view of how it went, we weren't really hanging on, and we could have won it.

"But at least it keeps our unbeaten run going."

Kevin Smith equalised for Goole on 29 minutes but Chris Howarth restored Harrogate's lead going into half time. Adam Wash, pulled a second back for the hosts in the second half.

Goole co-manager Jimmy Reid said: "From our point of view, a draw was a fair result. They had a man sent off and sometimes it can be difficult to play against a team with one sent off but I was impressed with them."

Updated: 11:50 Monday, February 23, 2004