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03
Mar
Set pieces the difference as Harrogate edge past Accrington
Harrogate Town and Accrington Stanley will no doubt both focus on defending set pieces in training this week, after every goal came from a corner or free kick in their Wetherby Road clash on Saturday, which ended with a narrow 2-1 victory for the home side.
The much-needed win now sees 20th-placed Town 10 points clear of the relegation zone following what was a ‘six-pointer’ against the 21st-placed Lancashire side.
Harrogate started the game well, being denied a reasonable penalty claim within three minutes after Josh March was brought down in the box under the challenge of Accrington’s Devon Matthews and Benn Ward.
The Sulphurites had most of the chances in the first half, gradually probing the Accrington defence until Jasper Moon’s header deflected past Billy Crellin to make it 1-0, following a teasing corner to the back post from Ellis Taylor in the 19th minute.
Harrogate supporters grew increasingly frustrated with the referee as the half went on, due to his seeming willingness to allow Accrington’s Donald Love to keep creeping up the sideline when taking his throw-ins.
The former Sunderland defender was booked for handball just before half time, which was met with sarcastic jeers from the home crowd.
Anthony O’Connor and Jasper Moon looked assured together in defence and Harrogate went in at half-time relatively unscathed.
Five minutes into the second half, Accrington levelled the score. A low corner to the near post from Ashley Hunter was flicked on by striker Josh Woods past the gloves of James Belshaw.
Stanley were only level for eight minutes though, after a Toby Sims flick following a deep free kick was poked home by Town top scorer Josh March, to take his tally to six for the season.
Accrington had more of the chances in what was a scrappy second half, their biggest coming in the 64th minute when substitute Tyler Walton’s header forced a good reaction-save from James Belshaw.
Despite this, the Sulphurites managed to hold on for their second win in three games and make it five matches unbeaten at Wetherby Road.
Harrogate goal scorers Josh March and Jasper Moon. Photo: Harrogate Town AFC
'We've now got a bigger, stronger team'
Harrogate boss Simon Weaver spoke about his team's performance:
I thought we were really good in the first half and we were quite forceful with what we did. We didn’t take advantage of our lead, though, by scoring another before half time.
It was frustrating to concede so early after the break, but I have to give credit to the lads for their reaction to conceding the goal. Set pieces have been a good quality of ours in recent weeks and it paid off again.
Fair play to Accrington, it was a real fight in the second half for both teams. It’s a war of attrition more often than not in League Two – you can’t expect it to be pretty football all the time at this stage of the season with what’s at stake.
We’ve now got a bigger, stronger team to be able to impose ourselves in these tense moments. We’re delighted with the progress that we’ve made at home and with the supporters being right behind us.
Photo: Harrogate Town AFC
Player watch
New signing Tom Hill made his league debut on Saturday, completing the full 90 minutes and putting in a solid performance in midfield.
The former Liverpool under-23s captain has got a bright future ahead of him and could become a vital player in the heart of the Harrogate team. Simon Weaver said the midfielder was “instrumental in the win”.
Ben Fox was substituted at half time on Saturday. The player, brought in from Northampton in January, was involved in a nasty head collision with Accrington’s Alex Henderson after 10 minutes, but continued until the break.
The 27-year-old holding midfielder has been brilliant for Harrogate since joining and Town supporters will be hoping that his substitution was just a precautionary one.
James Daly was absent from the squad at the weekend. In his post-match interview, Simon Weaver said that he has been bed-ridden with illness over the past four days, but that he is hoping the midfielder will be available for Harrogate’s away fixture against Port Vale tomorrow (March 4).
Harrogate Town travel to Vale Park tomorrow to face in-form Port Vale, before welcoming bottom-placed Carlisle to Wetherby Road on Saturday (March 8).
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