Match Preview: Harrogate Town

14 March 2022

Following on from a huge win on Friday night, there’s more action under the Prenton Park lights as Rovers host Harrogate Town on Tuesday night.

It was a much-needed win for Micky Mellon’s men on Friday evening after a brace from substitute Elliot Nevitt including a 95^th minute winner sealed the points.

It was a crucial victory for Rovers against a fellow promotion contender in Mansfield Town who pegged Rovers back twice during the game but left Prenton Park with nothing to show for their efforts.

As for the visitors, Harrogate are without a win in four games after suffering a 3-0 defeat away at Bristol Rovers last time out.

Team News:

Paul Glatzel and Kieron Morris both went off with injuries on Friday night and will be doubts for Tuesday night.

Jay Spearing and Nicky Maynard have been stepping up their recovery from injury and will continue to be assessed

One to Watch: Luke Armstrong

25-year-old Luke Armstrong seems to have found his feet at Harrogate Town this season, scoring 11 goals in Sky Bet League Two so far this campaign.

After starting out at Middlesbrough, the striker experienced a number of loan spells in the North East, featuring for non-league sides Gateshead and Blyth Spartans where he enjoyed a prolific spell with both respective sides.

In the summer of 2019, he joined Salford City on a permanent basis and scored in the 3-0 win over Walsall which turned out to be Salford’s first ever win in the football league.

He experienced another loan spell in the North East with a move to Hartlepool where he scored 15 goals in all competitions and scored in the play-off final win over Torquay United.

Armstrong since joined Harrogate last summer and has been in inspired form as Harrogate have defied the odds against a number of sides again this season.

Manager: Simon Weaver

English football’s longest serving manager in the top five tiers, Simon Weaver passed the ten-year milestone back in May 2019.

Born in Doncaster, Weaver played the large majority of his playing career within non-league, before moving into management in 2009, originally as a player/manager for Harrogate Town.

Whilst in charge of Harrogate, he has led his side to two promotions and seen his team rise into the English football league, as well as experiencing two trips to Wembley where they also won the FA Trophy in 2019/20.

Match Coverage:

Both UK and overseas supporters can watch this game live on iFollow for just £10. Click here to get your match pass

TRFC Radio will be in position to provide live full match commentary on proceedings at Prenton Park.

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 reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Harrogate Town

15 March 2022

Tranmere put on a professional performance under the Prenton Park lights as they beat 10-man Harrogate Town 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Goals from Lewis Warrington and Kane Hemmings proved the difference as Micky Mellon’s side made it back-to-back wins in Sky Bet League Two.

The first quarter of an hour was short of any real action at Prenton Park with neither side’s keepers being troubled.

Just after the 20-minute mark, Kane Hemmings spun his man well from a throw-in but hit a wild half-volley well wide of the Harrogate goal.

Things soon began to liven up however as Harrogate top goal-scorer Luke Armstrong received two yellow cards in the space of three minutes and was given his marching orders by referee Darren Handley.

The first caution was for a late challenge on Tom Davies in the Tranmere area whilst the second yellow card was for a foul whilst competing in the air with Peter Clarke which the referee deemed enough to send the striker off with just 27 minutes played.

With one more yellow card handed out to one of the Harrogate coaching staff for their complaints on the dismissal, play continued and Rovers pushed for the opener.

Josh Hawkes had an effort blocked for a corner after consecutive crosses into the box before Elliot Nevitt had a glancing header well saved as he looked to build on his brace on Friday night against Mansfield Town.

Harrogate still possessed a threat going forward despite being a striker down as Mark Beck showed some strong hold-up play before laying off Jack Diamond who dragged an effort wide.

With three minutes to go before the interval, Josh Hawkes picked up the ball on the left and had a right-footed effort just tipped around the post by ‘keeper Mark Oxley before Calum MacDonald received the ball in a similar position minutes later, but his effort flew wide of the near post.

The second half started in the same way the first ended with Tranmere piling on the pressure.

And finally, the deadlock was broken on 48 minutes after some stunning build-up play saw Kane Hemmings’ flick reach Everton loanee Lewis Warrington who’s right footed effort crept into the far corner and gave Rovers the lead.

Just short of the hour mark, Hawkes had another effort well saved by Oxley as he cut inside onto his right foot but couldn’t beat the Harrogate stopper before having an identical chance blocked by George Thompson for a corner.

The resulting set-piece saw referee Handley point to the penalty spot after Davies was dragged to the floor as he attempted to head home.

With 26 minutes to play, Hemmings confidently stepped up and scored to double Rovers’ advantage from the spot and give Tranmere breathing space heading into the last quarter of the game.

The visitors almost had an immediate equaliser from the kick-off as Jack Diamond broke through after a mazy run, but his effort was headed off the line by Peter Clarke.

Harrogate kept pushing to get back into the game despite the man disadvantage with Ryan Fallowfield’s effort getting a crucial block from MacDonald before troubling Joe Murphy.

But Rovers stood firm and held onto a crucial win along with a clean sheet in front of the SWA with the first goal scorer Lewis Warrington being named man of the match on the night.

The win keeps Tranmere fourth and a point behind second placed Northampton Town as we look ahead to Saturday’s game against Sutton United.