Harrogate Town vs. Latics

Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 43

20 April 2021

Latics continue their Sky Bet League Two campaign as they travel to Harrogate Town for the penultimate away fixture (7pm KO).

Keith Curle’s men were unable to make it three wins in a row last time out and fell to a 4-3 defeat against high-flying Morecambe.

Conor McAleny, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Kyle Jameson were on the scoresheet in the away loss.

Form Guide

Harrogate’s 2-1 win over Bradford City ended a seven game run without a victory, securing their Football League status and completing the double over their Yorkshire rivals.

Goals from Jack Muldoon and Joshua McPake on either side of an Andy Cook equaliser made sure of the victory.

The result lifted Harrogate above Latics in the table and they sit in 16^th place in their maiden campaign.

Town’s last six

Harrogate Town 2-1 Bradford City
Harrogate Town 2-2 Leyton Orient
Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town 0-2 Port Vale
Walsall 0-0 Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town 0-1 Southend United

Head-to-Head

Meetings: 1

Latics wins: 0
Harrogate wins: 1
Draws: 0

In the only previous competitive meeting between the two sides, a brace from George Thompson made sure Town claimed all three points on boxing day.

Latics did take the lead through McAleny from the penalty spot, but the lead lasted just longer than 10 minutes and matters were soon made worse with Bobby Grant being shown a straight red card in the 43^rd minute.

Watch Out For

Jack Muldoon is Town’s top scorer in the division with 13 to his name.

He had been on a bit of a dry patch but his crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Bradford City saw him make a timely return to form.

Muldoon has been somewhat of a journeyman in his playing career, but the forward seems to have found a home in Harrogate.

The 31-year-old played for a host of non-league teams before getting his first taste of the league when he signed for Rochdale.

After struggling to make an impact at Spotland, Muldoon went back to the National League and had spells with Lincoln City and AFC Fylde.

He signed for Town in June 2018 and has been a mainstay in the side ever since, including in last season’s promotion-winning season.

In The Dugout

Simon Weaver is the man in the dugout for the hosts.

Simon Weaver.jpg

The 43-year-old has been manager of Town since 2009.

This is Weaver’s first job in management and Harrogate Town has been transformed under his leadership. The club had been strugglers of the sixth tier but since they reached the National League for the first time in the club’s history and remarkably the Football League not much later.

Stadium

Wetherby Road (The EnviroVent Stadium)

The EnviroVent Stadium.jpg

Capacity: 5,000
Record Attendance: 4,280 (vs. Harrogate Railway, 1949/50)
Opened: 1920

Match Officials

The referee in charge is Carl Boyeson.

Carl Boyeson.jpg

He has taken charge of 27 games in this campaign handing out 96 bookings and one red card.

The last fixture he officiated involving Latics was in February 2021, a 3-1 away win at Carlisle United. Prior to that, he was also in charge for the 3-0 victory over the same opponent in the Carabao Cup at the start of the season.

His assistants are David Avent and Ivan Stankovic with Graeme Fyvie as the Fourth Official.

Sky Bet Odds

Town are 10/11 favourites to take all three points whilst Latics are out at 13/5 to return to winning ways.

13/5 is also the price being offered for the draw.

Please gamble responsibly by clicking here. For more information visit: www.begambleaware.org

How To Follow The Game

Fixture News

Fixture news for Harrogate Town vs Oldham Athletic on 20 Apr 21

19 April 2021

Because the game is classed as behind-closed-doors, supporters can tune into a live match stream with commentary available for all subscribers on iFollow Latics, as Michael Brown and John Helm talk you through the action.

efl-stay-away-2020-21-970x249--a42130f8-dcef-4d09-8c30-70fbad08b7d4.png

This match is available as a live stream for the fee of £10 by clicking here.

In the current environment, there is a greater dependence on match streaming than ever before.

As a result iFollow generates one of the only revenue streams available to clubs through these financial challenges.

Piracy - and illegal streaming of matches - does not only carry the risk of potential criminal action, but also has a greater financial impact on clubs while supporters are unable to attend matches.

The EFL's campaign would like to not only convey the message that piracy is immoral and illegal, but that it is also financially damaging club's across the divisions.

For more information on the campaign and iFollow, click here.

Alternatively, supporters can also follow the game with live updates on the club's official Twitter account: @OfficialOAFC.

Match Reports

Harrogate Town 0-3 Latics

20 April 2021

Latics earned an inspiring victory on their first-ever visit to the EnviroVent Stadium.

Following a frustrating defeat away at Morecambe over the weekend, Keith Curle named one change to the team with the experienced Nicky Adams returning to the starting XI replacing Dylan Fage.

Inside the first ten minutes, Latics managed to take the lead through Alfie McCalmont on his return to Yorkshire. Adams’ corner was cleared to the midfielder on the edge of the box and he produced impressive technique to smash the ball off the crossbar and into the net, very similar to his incredible goal against Exeter City.

Harrogate Town began to dominate for a period of the first-half but failed to create any clear cut chances for themselves. The most noteworthy moment occurred when Mitchell Roberts raced down the left-wing before drilling an inviting low cross into the box, however, Carl Piergianni bravely led by example to clear the ball inside the six-yard box.

The exciting Dylan Bahamboula continued to showcase his ability with the ball as he beat a defender on the edge of the area before seeing his effort deflected behind for a corner. From the resulting corner, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was given a free header from the six-yard box, but Joe Cracknell somehow managed to keep him out.

Goalscorer nearly turned provided just before the interval as McCalmont demonstrated his vision to slot Bahamboula in towards the right-hand side of the box, however, the attacker’s side-footed effort hit the side-netting.

Just before half-time, the visitors nearly doubled their advantage as Conor McAleny struck a volley sweetly inside the area, but it went straight at the goalkeeper.

However, a minute into the second-half and Oldham extended their lead when Harry Clarke, operating a right-wing back this evening, sprinted down his flank before his powerful strike was parried by Cracknell into the path of Bahamboula and the Congo international kept his composure to dribble around the goalkeeper and smash into an empty net.

Curle brought George Blackwood off the bench in the 73^rd minute and a few minutes later he repaid the gaffer’s faith as he made it three. The Australian chased down the goalkeeper and blocked his clearance which rolled into the back of the net as his hard work paid off for his third goal of the season.

The boys in blue should’ve had another through another Curle substitute Marcus Barnes as he found himself clean through on goal, however, the former Southampton man slotted his effort wide of the target.

Blackwood nearly doubled his tally for the night in added time as he received the ball on the edge of the area by Youth Team scholar Harry Vaughan before dribbling forwards, but his low strike was saved by Cracknell.

The hosts looked to pull a goal back, however, the Latics backline held strong to secure the three points and a much-needed clean sheet.

Harrogate Town XI – Cracknell (GK), Falkingham © (Williams 83’), Smith (Fallowfield 79’), Burrell, Thomson (Kiernan 83’), Stead (Beck 75’), Kerry (Franics 79’), Muldoon, Hall, McPake, Roberts.

Subs – Belshaw (GK).

Oldham Athletic XI – Walker (GK), Clarke, Borthwick-Jackson, Piergianni ©, Whelan, Keillor-Dunn (Vaughan 83’), Jameson, McAleny (Blackwood 73’), Adams (Badan 83’), Bahamboula (Barnes 65’), McCalmont (Garrity 73’).

Subs – Bilboe (GK), Fage.

Goals: McCalmont 7’, Bahamboula 46’, Blackwood 75’

Referee – Carl Boyeson