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Harrogate Town EFL Saturday preview

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Harrogate Town EFL Saturday preview

Postby Sweden Stag » Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:25 pm

The second leg of this week’s Harrogate Town preview double-header is the One Call Stadium League Two fixure on Saturday. The first leg, the JPT Trophy opener at Harrogate last Tuesday night, was lost to a 3-1 scoreline. But note that the line-ups of both sides differed vastly to the ones both sides fielded last Saturday, when the Stags controversially lost at Swindon and Harrogate had their 100% record dented by a home draw against Exeter City. To be fair, controversial decisions by the officials have already cost the Stags three points this season (two at Colchester a few weeks ago, one at Swindon.

Last season’s fixtures between the sides highlighted very much the Stags’ problems against newly-promoted sides in preview history. The proof: both games against Harrogate were lost by the only goal of the game after very poor displays, enough printed. The Stags also lost both games against last season’s other promoted side, namely Barrow AFC. And in the season before last, the Stags lost both games against Leyton Orient and the one which was played against Salford City.

Last season was Harrogate Town’s first ever in the EFL. Well there, they finished lower mid-table, one position below the Stags and lost ten home games, only Oldham and relegated Southend lost more on home soil last term.
But Harrogate Town won eight games on the road, including their debut game, acomprehensive 4-0 victory at Southend almost a year ago.

and won the only previous fixture against the Stags at One Call by the only goal of the game after a poor Stags display on November 24, 2020. Most recently, Harrogate have won three and lost three out of their six latest League Two fixtures.

In the 2018-19 season, Harrogate Town much more than held their own in the Conf National, eventually finishing sixth. A position which was bettered the following campaign when the club was in second position, four points below Barrow when play was halted. While Barrow were voted back into the EFL as declared winners, Harrogate were playoff material. Well there, they disposed of Boreham Wood in the semifinals before entering the EFL by beating Notts County in the final.

There has at least been THREE players who have played for the Stags and Harrogate Town in recent history. Research has revealed that Paul Bolland was the first one. Ten games for the Stags followed a loan move to Harrogate Town where he played 55 Conference North games over two seasons around 2012-13. And in the 2012-13 season, Harrogate Town reached the FA Cup second round for the first time. After beating Torquay, Harrogate Town lost the second round away replay at Hastings on penalties after an epic tie. The winner was drawn away to Middlesbrough in the third round, that same third round in which the Stags played Liverpool at headquarters.

The second player is John McCombe. Signed by Paul Cox upon the League Two return, he managed just a handful games for the Stags before leaving for York City. After playing for Macclesfield and Chester, McCombe signed for Harrogate Town and played 14 games for them during the 2017-18 before leaving for Boston United without playing. The most recent club for McCombe was Hyde United, a side the Stags faced during the 2012-13 conf winning campaign.

Warren Burrell played in the Stags’ final 2007-08 League Two fixture at Dagenham & Redbridge but has represented Harrogate Town since 2016, having played in over 120 EFL and Conf games since then. Ever-present so far, also played in the Trophy game the other night, he scored their dramatic 3-2 winner in the opening day home fixture against Rochdale. Proved that not only the Stags were involved in late winning drama on this season’s opening day (the late converted penalty against Bristol Rovers in the sixth minute of added time at One Call).

Before reaching the FA Cup second round in 2012-13, Harrogate Town had reached the first round a decade earlier for the first time ever, losing at Farnborough to a 5-1 scoreline. In 2005-06, the first round was reached again, only to lose a replay against Torquay on penalties, but revenge was sealed in 2012 when Harrogate again were drawn against the Gulls. On November 3, 2012, Harrogate clipped the Gulls at a venue well-known to the previewer. At Plainmoor, Harrogate triumphed to a 1-0 scoreline and the long journey home to Yorkshire was definitely victorious.

Elsewhere, Forest Green are still leading League Two despite losing at home to Port Vale last Saturday, while Bristol Rovers’ first visit to Barrow in EFL fixtures for the first time since November 29, 1969, then at the same third level as the Stags played in at that time, ended in a 1-1 draw. Results so far this season might prove that this season’s League Two might be a tight one at both ends, but still there is early doors.

The ref for Saturday will be Paul Howard. Last season, he reffed the Stags’ inept home display against Bradford City as well as the corresponding away game against that side. Last season, Mr Howard also reffed Harrogate Town and did so in their 2-5 home defeat against Scunthorpe. Hopefully, he will fare much better than the most recent ones who have officiated the Stags.

Also about time for the Stags to get the breaks again. Come on Mansfield!
Stockholm, July 4, 2008, 15.00 GMT. Good news came, K.H. gone. March 1, 2012. Ground purchased.
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