Super-sub Lowe hits late winner as Saints cap fine week

Following the midweek Emirates FA Cup replay success over League One Gillingham, Saints returned to Vanarama National League North action on Saturday. And they had to come from behind to beat Harrogate Town 2-1 at St James Park.

Both Saints’ substitutes scored second half goals to reverse Harrogate’s halftime lead and give the FA Cup giant killers a deserved home win.

Saints enjoyed the better of a somewhat subdued first period but fell behind to Simon Ainge’s glancing header for the visitors in first half stoppage-time.

Saints started the second half strongly and were quickly level through substitute David Moyo’s excellent close range finish that lit up a grey afternoon. Moyo started and ended the move, nipping in to provide a deft touch to Steve Diggin’s cross.

Saints left it late but always looked the more likely to get the winner, Harrogate only once threatening when Alex Gudger got in a crucial block on Joe Colbeck’s effort midway through the second period.

Lowe came off the bench replacing midweek FA Cup hat-trick hero Jimmy Armson and scored the winning goal in the last minute just when the visitors must have felt they had secured a valuable away point. Lowe dribbled into the area and fired home through a forest of bodies.

Harrogate exerted late pressure but Saints held out to record an important win after the exertions of Wednesday’s extra-time defeat of League One Gillingham lifting them to seventh in the table and continuing Harrogate’s poor run of form.