After last week’s mess, the last thing we need is to play another team making a fast start to the season – and yet here we are. Harrogate Town are only just into their second-ever campaign at this level. But you wouldn’t know it from the assured way in which 2020-1 is taking shape. Despite a Covid-19 interruption, The Sulpherites kicked things by going six unbeaten; a run that ended last weekend with a 2-0 defeat at Port Vale. Still, they’re third in the table and won’t be too worried about what’s coming their way when we rock up.
Or are we being too down, without giving Revs and the lads a chance to put things right?
Harrogate Town v Stevenage
The EnviroVent Stadium, Stevenage — 25 September 2021 — Sky Bet League Two
The bottom line is that we don’t have too much history with the North Yorkshire side. They were a fair distance behind us in terms of their rise up the pyramid. And last season was the first time that we had any cause to meet. Not that anyone was there to see it, of course. Covid-19 ensured that our historic first-ever encounter took place behind closed doors. And it was at their place if we hadn’t already made that clear.
It’s more or less 11 months since that date; Boro’ travelling to The EnviroVent Stadium while on an awful run. We hadn’t won for six league games. And we hadn’t scored for five straight league games either. In our 0-0 draw, we ticked both those boxes – while giving iFollow viewers little to smile about.
The return fixture was in March; long after we sorted ourselves out. This time, we were on a run of form that wasn’t deeply distressing. We hadn’t lost in five league matches and had kept three straight clean sheets. Mind you, the game before Harrogate’s first visit to the Lamex had seen us win 3-0 against Forest Green Rovers at home. That certainly ain’t the case here.
Anyway, Elliott List scored the winner and means we come into this unbeaten against our hosts.
How long will that record last?
Head-to-Head-to-Date…
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts* | WR% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 50% |
