Matchday Guide | Harrogate Town (A)

17 February 2023

Crewe Alexandra will look to make it back-to-back victories when they visit Harrogate Town for the first time ever on Saturday (3pm).

Lee Bell’s side will be on a high following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hartlepool United on Tuesday, courtesy of a Callum Ainley strike and a first senior goal from Ryan Finnigan.

The Opposition

Harrogate currently sit 20^th in League Two table on 28 points, two clear of 23^rd placed Hartlepool, having played two games less than the struggling North East side.

Last time out, they earned an impressive 1-1 draw away to promotion chasers Salford City, with Jack Muldoon putting the Sulphurites in front before Matty Lund netted a late equaliser for the Greater Manchester side.

The Gaffer

Simon Weaver took charge of the North Yorkshire club in May 2009 when they were in the then-called Conference North, with father Irving appointed chairman at the same time. The Weavers have guided Town through the greatest part of their history, with Simon taking charge of more than 700 games.

In August 2020, Harrogate beat Notts County 3-1 in the National League Play-Off Final to earn them a place in the EFL.

Fighting Talk

Lee Bell: “The boys need to get ready for a high-energy game; they have pace and power up the top and won’t hesitate to try to get the ball in behind us. They will have a decent crowd behind them, and they will want to win the game due their position in the league. It will be a really tough game."

Simon Weaver: “We’re back to being on the front foot and being aggressive with our style and asking questions of the opposition by a high tempo style of play. More of the same is required on Saturday against a good group of solid of Crewe players.”

Team News

Sean Robertson is expected to return into the matchday squad after serving his one-match suspension. Christopher Long, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Kelvin Mellor and David Amoo remain sidelined.

Harrogate are expected to remain without Stephen Dooley, Kyle Ferguson and Kayne Ramsey as they continue to rehabilitate from long term injuries.

Head-to-Head

This will only be the second meeting between both sides, with the Alex winning the reverse fixture earlier on in the season 3-0 courtesy of goals from Dan Agyei, Kelvin Mellor and Courtney Baker-Richardson.

Officials

Lewis Smith will take charge of proceedings on Saturday afternoon, refereeing his first Alex match in his career.

He will be assisted by Abbas Khan and Stephen Wade, with Steven Rushton appointed as fourth official.

Ticket Details

For ticket information on this fixture click HERE.

How To Get There

To access an away fans' guide to matches at Harrogate click HERE.

Elsewhere in League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Hartlepool United; Bradford City v Barrow; Carlisle United v Colchester United; Leyton Orient v Crawley Town; Northampton Town v Grimsby Town; Rochdale v Gillingham; Salford City v Swindon Town; Stockport County v Stevenage; Sutton United v Doncaster Rovers; Tranmere Rovers v Mansfield Town; Walsall v Newport County.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Match Report | Harrogate 2 Crewe 2

18 February 2023

Reds fight back from 2-0 in final 10 minutes
Agyei and Uwakwe on target in comeback
Three games unbeaten for The Railwaymen

Two goals in the last seven minutes earned Crewe Alexandra a battling 2-2 draw at Harrogate Town on Saturday.

Strikes from Jack Muldoon and Kazeem Olaigbe left The Railwaymen trailing going into the closing stages at EnviroVent Stadium.

But Lee Bell’s men stayed in the game, and Dan Agyei notched his ninth of the season from the penalty spot on 83 minutes.

And Tariq Uwakwe equalised on 89 minutes to send the 590 travelling fans into raptures.

The result means Crewe move up to 17^th in League Two, and are three games unbeaten.

Manager Bell named the same starting side that beat Hartlepool last time out. Sean Robertson was amongst the subs after serving his suspension.

Harrogate, who had lost three of the previous four home games and started the afternoon seven points behind the Alex, forced keeper Dave Richards into a smart double save on 11 minutes.

He pushed away an Anthony O’Connor header and then was up quickly to block a follow-up effort from Luke Armstrong.

On 20 minutes Callum Ainley was inches from getting a touch on Elliott Nevitt’s deflected shot, and it span away for a corner.

Harrogate enjoyed slightly more territory in the first half, and went close to forcing the ball home from set-piece situations on a couple of occasions.

At the other end, Agyei turned neatly in the box but saw his shot deflected out for a corner.

On 33 minutes, Harrogate took the lead. Olaigbe knocked down to Muldoon who bounced a shot home first time from the edge of the box.

Nevitt saw a shot from close range hit the inside of the post with keeper Mark Oxley beaten, and Ainley’s follow-up shot was blocked, as Crewe looked for a leveller before the break.

Nevitt lifted a strike just off target after collecting a cross from Rio Adebisi soon after the restart, but it wasn’t long before the hosts doubled their advantage.

Crewe did not do enough to clear a corner and Olaigbe smashed it home from eight yards out.

Bell switched to a back four on the hour, and made several changes to try to affect a reaction.

The Alex played more football but struggled to create clear openings. Sub Lachlan Brook cut inside and saw a strike blocked by a defender.

Just as hope was fading, Agyei earned and confidently dispatched a penalty after being brought down by O’Connor.

And it was all square when Uwakwe controlled a cross from the right and forced the ball over the line with a right-footed shot.

Brook volleyed over as Crewe tried to find a winner in the six minutes of added time, but it ended 2-2.

Harrogate (4-4-2): Oxley; Sims (Burrell, 74), O’Connor, Eastman, Foulds; Pattison (Grant, 88), Falkingham, Sutton, Olaigbe; Muldoon (Folarin, 88), Armstrong.

Subs not used: Jameson, Thomson, McArdle, Daly.

Booked: None.

Crewe (3-5-2): Richards; O’Riordan (Robertson, 59), Offord, McDonald; Adebisi, Finnigan, Thomas (Brook, 63), Ainley (Uwakwe, 77), Tabiner; Agyei, Nevitt.

Subs not used: Beadle, Sass-Davies, Griffiths, Sambou.

Booked: Adebisi, Finnigan

Referee: Lewis Smith.

Attendance: 2, 607 (590).

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets | Harrogate Town (A)

17 February 2023

Limited tickets remain on sale for our Sky Bet League Two clash with Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon.

Click here to add yours straight to your basket.

The Reds head into the fixture on the back of two positive results against Crawley Town and Hartlepool United.

Seating has completely sold out with 15 standing tickets left for supporters to grab.

No tickets will be available on the day.

Ticket Details

Category	Seating	Standing
Adults	£23	£20
Over-65s	£19	£16
Students 18+	£19	£16
Blue Light Card	£19	£16
Under-18s	£5	£5
Junior Under-12s	Free	Free
Child Under-5s	Free	Free (with paying adult)