Match Preview: Harrogate Town

30 March 2023

Friday night football is back at Prenton Park and Tranmere Rovers look to build on last week’s positive performance as they take on Harrogate Town under the lights!

Rovers currently sit in 14th place in Sky Bet League Two but will want a strong end to the campaign to finish as high up as possible in the league standings.

The visitors, Harrogate Town, are managed by Simon Weaver and occupy the 20th position in the division which is six places and 11 points behind Rovers.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Envirovent Stadium back in October with Jordan Turnbull earning Rovers a point with his second half goal.

One to Watch: Alex Pattison

Born in the North-East, Pattison came through the ranks at Middlesborough where he was loaned multiple times to the likes of York City on two occasions before spending a year on loan at Yeovil Town.

He then left Middlesborough permanently with a move to League One side Wycombe Wanderers where he made 16 league appearances before the season was cut short early due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He featured from the bench in all the play-off games which saw Wycombe remarkably promoted to the second tier which earnt him an extra one-year deal at Adams Park.

Following this, he departed Gareth Ainsworth’s side and joined Harrogate in May 2021. In his first season in the yellow and black, Pattison scored nine goals in league action in what was his best scoring season.

This season, he’s scored eight goals and claimed fours assist in all competitions and promises to be a threat if selected on Friday night.

The Manager: Simon Weaver

By three years, Simon Weaver leads as the longest serving manager in the EFL after taking over in May 2009. The Doncaster born manager is closing in on 700 games in charge of the League Two side after overseeing their rise into the football league.

He won promotion to the National League in 2018 with a play-off final win over Brackley Town before beating Notts County in the National League play-off final at Wembley in 20220, leading Harrogate to the football League for the first-time in. their history.

After a solid couple of years within the Football League, Weaver will be relatively pleased to further cement the Sulphurites’ place in Sky Bet League Two by securing their safety from the drop sooner rather than later.

How to watch Tranmere Rovers v Harrogate Town?

Due to the game being played on Friday night, our game against Harrogate Town is available to watch on live in both the UK and overseas supporters.

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How can I listen to live commentary of Tranmere Rovers v Harrogate Town?

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First time visitors

If you are visiting Prenton Park for the first time, we have all the information you need to know! Click here to view our home fan guide.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Harrogate Town

31 March 2023

Tranmere Rovers and Harrogate Town played out an end-to-end 1-1 draw on Friday night at Prenton Park.

Luke Armstrong’s early strike was levelled out by a Mark Oxley own goal from a wicked Rhys Hughes free kick in the first half.

It was a disastrous start to the game for Rovers when Harrogate opened the scoring in just the fourth minute. George Thomson was allowed the freedom of the right wing before delivering a cross for Luke Armstrong to stab home from close range.

Tranmere tried to respond quickly with crosses from either flank from Bristow and Dacres-Cogley but Harrogate kept switched on after their early goal to clear the danger.

Josh Hawkes combined well with Dacres-Cogley down the right before crossing low towards Rhys Hughes who looked to shoot but was beaten to the ball by his marker.

Armstrong was again the threat for the away side when he momentarily got in behind but Davies got back in position well to block his shot from the edge of the box.

On the half hour mark, Josh Hawkes delivered a free kick from the left which found Harvey Saunders at the back post but his looping header back across goal landed wide of the far post

Shortly after, Rovers drew level. Rhys Hughes stepped up to take a free kick roughly 30 yards out from goal and expertly curled his effort towards goal. The ball ricocheted off the post and onto the back of Oxley in the Harrogate net to officially register as an own goal.

Tranmere had all of the momentum after that goal and nearly completed the turnaround moments later. Hawkes and Dacres-Cogley played a neat one two before the resulting cross deflected just past the head of Mumbongo.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first half. Olaigbe had an early sighter from the edge of the box which Hewelt got down sharply to.

Five minutes later, Rhys Hughes picked out Josh Hawkes on the edge of the box with a free kick. Hawkes drilled a low shot into a crowd of bodies before Harrogate cleared as Turnbull was about to prod it goalwards.

Hughes’ loose pass in midfield almost led to a Harrogate goal. Luke Armstrong bared down on goal looking to grab his second of the night but he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the far post.

Josh Dacres-Cogley beat his man on the right before cutting it back to Joel Mumbongo who seen his scuffed shot saved by Mark Oxley

With 20 minutes remaining the away side had a glorious chance to gain the advantage. Mateusz Hewelt produced an excellent double save to deny Olaigbe’s deflected strike from distance before spreading himself to deny the close range rebound.

With time ticking away, Kane Hemmings tried his luck from 25 yards and seen his effort deflect agonisingly wide of the post.

Harvey Saunders was next to try his luck and he turned smartly on the edge of the box before rifling a right footed shot narrowly over the bar.

Despite pushing hard, Rovers couldn’t find the elusive winner and had to settle for a point at Prenton Park despite a lot of their domination.

Tranmere team: Hewelt, Dacres-Cogley, Davies, Turnbull, Bristow, Merrie, Hendry, Hughes (Burton 81’), Hawkes, Saunders, Mumbongo (Hemmings 65’)

Subs: O’Connor, Hoti, Chalmers, Turner-Cooke, Taylor