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Three wins in a row, and three quite different victories, see us still with a chance, mathematically, of making the play-offs. Incidentally, we’ve won three in a row four times this season but have yet to win four in a row. We can change that tomorrow against a Harrogate team fighting to preserve their football league status. And then go on to win six in a row, hopefully.
Iandolo was missing from the squad again on Tuesday night and, as far as I’m aware, there’s been no word why that was or if he’ll be back tomorrow so in light of this lack of information, and the same for Bishop as well, I’m expecting the U’s to line up as follows:
Vincent-Young and Hunt were on the left and right respectively on Tuesday night but I’m not sure whether that was more to do with Accrington than us. Be interesting to see how they line up tomorrow. Talking of Hunt, I think he’s had a pretty solid season personally despite playing in at least three different positions. He’s reliable, consistent and a tidy footballer. He’s also one of only three players to figure in every league match day squad so far this season.
Poor Harrogate find themselves bottom of the football league and four points from safety with only three games left for them to secure the points they desperately need. They’ve only won eight games all season although two of those have been in their last six with recent away wins at both Tranmere and Grimsby. The fixtures don’t get any easier after us either with Walsall and Barnet being their final two matches. Their only hope really is that they end up playing three teams with nothing much to play for. Harrogate have stuck with long serving manager Simon Weaver, probably only because his dad is the chairman, but possibly because it could actually be the best thing for the club. For some reason I quite like Harrogate, maybe it’s due to the lovely tea they make, although I’ve never actually been there. In fact I’ve barely stepped foot in Yorkshire apart from a geography field trip to Swaledale and taking my old Escort RS Cosworth to a bodyshop in Huddersfield. Ultimately Harrogate do seem like a non-league club playing league football and they might actually be happier dropping down to the National League. The costs of running a football club seem to go up considerably at each level of the football pyramid and you are seeing clubs foregoing promotions or even requesting to be relegated (Hashtag United) to reduce costs.
The Harrogate squad includes Shawn McCoullsky who was here for a short period during the 2021-22 season but I think that’s it and I’m not sure any of our current squad have played for them. Of players that have played for both Tom Eastman spent some time there towards the end of his Col U career, I believe he was very close to signing for them permanently but didn’t want to uproot his family. Also Miles Welch-Hayes joined Harrogate after leaving the U’s in 2022. No one else who has played for both really springs to mind so it’s a challenge for someone to come up with any more.
The weather at Wetherby Road tomorrow is set to be cool 13 degrees with a moderate breeze from the west and showers expected. Welcome to Yorkshire U’s fans. We won five of the first six meetings between the side but then lost three of the next four and played out a drab 0-0 draw here last season. Often we’ve been by far the better team against Harrogate and then suffered a sucker punch but that wasn’t the case earlier in the season and I can’t see it being the case tomorrow so I’m going to go for a 3-1 U’s victory with the goals coming from Payne, Read and Lisbie, a result which could see the Sulphurites return to the National League after six seasons in League Two.
Up the U’s!
*Title from Durham's match preview from last season and amended as Simpson is no longer here.
Nice work RS, including repurposing Durham's original preview title. I have no particular issue with Harrogate, other than they are a non-league club that's currently occupying a league slot right now. There are better and bigger clubs waiting in the National League to replace them. But, relegating them isn't my driver, winning a fourth in a row is, which would take us within one point of bettering last season's finish, with two games to go.
U's to win 2-0, with Goodwin starting us off to a good win
1. Disgusting treatment of U’s disabled fans (they make the CUSA bus offload a taxi ride away).
2. No alcohol served to away fans (fortunately, nearest pub is near the bus park).
3. Shocking views, low down, poor stands and seating - non league standard.
4. Pies excellent, but at restaurant prices!
5. Small gates - poor atmosphere. A town seemingly disinterested in its football club.
I reckon the EFL should refuse entry to clubs having venues that don’t meet acceptable standards. Bromley FC is by far the worst, with Harrogate second, then Barrow and Crawley. Yes, our former home, Layer Road was a similar shite-hole, but we are now in modern times where disgusting portaloos or paddling in piss is unacceptable.
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Payne To Be The Catalyst For U's Chemical Reaction Against The Sulphurites on 10:37 - Apr 18 with 2423 views
I also meant to add that Harrogate seem to see us as a main rival for some reason. They even referred to a previous fixture as a derby! I have no idea where this comes from. Does anyone else know the reason for this?
Payne To Be The Catalyst For U's Chemical Reaction Against The Sulphurites on 10:37 - Apr 18 by RSCOSWORTH
I also meant to add that Harrogate seem to see us as a main rival for some reason. They even referred to a previous fixture as a derby! I have no idea where this comes from. Does anyone else know the reason for this?
That was last January - I suspect it was an overeager social media underling, as their next match after the U's was against Doncaster Rovers, which I guess at a stretch could have been considered a 'derby'?
Payne To Be The Catalyst For U's Chemical Reaction Against The Sulphurites on 17:02 - Apr 18 by TAFKAT
Well than didn’t go to plan.
Sadly not, our extremely faint hopes of the play-offs were already dashed by Chesterfield's point at Fleetwood before Harrogate's late winner. A shame we couldn't finish with six out of six, but we still have 69pts to play for to better last season. I'll be there at 'nam in May, to hopefully see us achieve that.
As for the game, we never really found any fluency in the game, to the credit of Harrogate who battled for everything like their lives depended on it. The forearm smash on Iandolo first half should have been a penalty, but that's League 2 officiating for you.
No excuses we were pretty rubbish today. If ever Tovide learns to stay on his feet he make a goalscorer one day...soon?. Even Lisbie seems to have problem staying upright lately. Didn't do the 400 plus Us traveling fans any favours today Hopefully we won't return to this "superb" stadium next season!
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Payne To Be The Catalyst For U's Chemical Reaction Against The Sulphurites on 20:15 - Apr 18 with 2132 views
Arrived late so didn’t get to the Woodlands Hotel Pub. In the ground had a horrible keg beer in what I imagine a nuclear bunker might look like, three breeze block walls and one stainless steel sheet. Ghastly seating, hope they get relegated and a proper stadium replace them in the EFL.
Sadly, a dire U’s performance against another bunch of thugs. However, Harrogate patently wanted it more than us. With holidays no doubt booked, our lot looked like their priority was avoiding injury, most already on the beach.
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Payne To Be The Catalyst For U's Chemical Reaction Against The Sulphurites on 00:09 - Apr 19 with 2056 views
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