Match Preview: Harrogate Town

25 January 2021

Tranmere Rovers host Harrogate Town at Prenton Park on Tuesday night aiming for a third straight win in Sky Bet League Two, kick-off 7pm.

Keith Hill’s men overcame Bolton Wanderers 2-1 last Saturday, with Danny Lloyd and James Vaughan on target, which moved Rovers just two points from the play-offs.

Simon Weaver’s Harrogate sit 18th in their debut EFL season and picked up battling draws against promotion hopefuls Salford City and Exeter City in their previous two outings.

Otis Khan’s goal secured a 1-0 victory when the two sides last met during November’s fixture.

Match officials

Referee: Andy Haines

Assistant referees: Alan Clayton and Peter Gooch
Fourth Official: Christopher Ward

One to watch

Striker, Jack Muldoon

Muldoon has scored 11 goals for the Sulphurites this campaign including one in the 2-2 draw at Salford on Friday night.

The 31-year-old has represented several different clubs at non-league level including Sheffield FC, Alfreton Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels, North Ferriby United and Worksop Town.

He earned a move to the EFL with Rochdale in 2014 before dropping back down with FC Halifax Town, Lincoln City, AFC Fylde and Harrogate, who he signed for in 2018.

Muldoon netted 13 times for the Yorkshire club last term as they were promoted from the Vanarama National League Play-Offs.

Matchday Programme

Priced at just £2, the SWA can purchase the official matchday programme by clicking HERE.

The programme is the ideal pre-match read for any TRFC fan, with fantastic features available to read.

Regular columns from Chairman Mark Palios and manager Keith Hill are included, plus all you need to know about visitors Harrogate.

Please note that this edition is a double combined programme from the Bolton game.

Match coverage

Former TRFC favourite Clint Hill will be a guest co-commentator on iFollow for Tuesday’s night’s clash with Harrogate.

Hill, who made over 150 appearances for Rovers, will join Phill Wilkinson and Adam Siddorn behind the mic, and you can get your match pass for £10 by CLICKING HERE.

“I’m excited and I can’t wait to return to Prenton Park on Tuesday night to watch the lads and provide match commentary on iFollow,” Hill said.

“Hopefully, many Tranmere fans will be tuning in to watch and listen to cheer on Keith and the players!”

The full broadcast will start at 6pm, while the SWA can watch the game live from 7pm.

Please note season ticket holders do automatically receive home games on their iFollow accounts and will not have to pay for this fixture.

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Tranmere 3-2 Harrogate

26 January 2021

Tranmere Rovers made it three league wins in a row with a hard fought 3-2 victory against Harrogate Town.

Rovers had to come from behind to seal the win with a brace from James Vaughan and a goal by Kaiyne Woolery, as the visitors were reduced to ten men in the second period. It is now five matches unbeaten for Tranmere in the league.

For the third game in a row, Rovers named an unchanged line up as they looked for win number three inside seven days.

It was a frantic start at Prenton Park with the Yorkshire visitors having the better of the early sights on goal, but Scott Davies, on his 250th appearance for the Club, was equal to the two efforts.

It was a slow start from the hosts compared to the last two performances, and Rovers had a real battle on their hands against last season’s National League Play-Off winners.

Tranmere’s first meaningful chance came with 24 minutes on the clock as nice build up play saw Danny Lloyd strike on goal, but his effort was well saved.

However, a minute later, Harrogate took what is fair to say a deserved lead as Josh McPake found space on the left hand side to strike the ball from inside the penalty area past Davies.

At the other end, looking for an instant reaction, Otis Khan hit a 25-yard free kick over the wall but easily into the keeper’s arms.

Tranmere were given a way back into the match in the 34th minute as Manny Monthe, on his birthday, was hacked down by a blue shirt, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot.

Up stepped, you guessed it, top goal scorer, Vaughan, to fire Tranmere back level with a calm penalty down the middle.

The first half concluded with a lot of feisty tackles flying in as both teams looked set for an important 45 minutes of football.

Rovers came racing out of the traps in the second half and scored two goals within two minutes, from two Liam Feeney corners.

Woolery and Vaughan were the goal scorers, the first by the former Swindon man who latched onto a Peter Clarke to stab the ball home.

The second, and a brace for Vaughan as he was quickest to react to a Paul Lewis to tap it in from all of one yard out as Tranmere took control of the game.

The tackles were still flying in and Harrogate were reduced to ten men when Connor Hall was given a second yellow card after slicing down Woolery, with referee Andy Haines sending the Town man for an early shower!

However, Town pulled a goal back with ten men as sub Josh March connected with a free-kick to flick the ball beyond the Rovers defence and into the top corner.

Two subs followed for TRFC as Liam Ridehalgh and Keiron Morris replaced Woolery and Lloyd with 18 minutes remaining.

An excellent save from the Harrogate keeper kept the score at 3-2 when a Feeney cross from the right was met by MacDonald with a diving header, but the keeper somehow was able to keep it out.

Tranmere had another golden chance with Vaughan and MacDonald making back post runs and free, but Feeney, which is very unlike him, overcooked his cross and it went over the bar.

Tranmere made two changes in added time as Vaughan and Feeney came off for Morgan Ferrier and George Ray.

MacDonald had another glorious opportunity to confirm the victory but at the back post, he fired over the bar as the scored remained the same. However, it didn’t matter and Rovers made it three wins on the spin and five unbeaten in the league.

Our next game is at Morecambe this weekend and the game will be live on iFollow, the cost £10. To purchase a match pass for the 3pm kick-off on Saturday 30th January, please CLICK HERE.

Tranmere: Davies, Khan, Clarke, Monthe, MacDonald, Spearing, Lewis, Feeney (Ray 90, Woolery (Morris 72), Lloyd (Ridehalgh 72), Vaughan (Ferrier 90). Unused subs: Murphy, O’Connor, Kirby

The match report is sponsored by MAIN.