Colchester United travel to Harrogate Town this weekend, looking to make it five games unbeaten since the arrival of Danny and Nicky Cowley.
The U’s came back from the brink last weekend after trailing 2-0 to Forest Green at half time. Goals from Alistair Smith, Jayden Fevrier and Harry Anderson gave the U’s an unlikely lead in a frantic five-minute period before an equaliser from the visitors soon after.
Now, Colchester United travel to a resurgent Harrogate Town this weekend looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
There was a welcome return amongst the substitutes for the U’s last weekend, with Jay Mingi included in the matchday eighteen for the first time since late November; Bradley Ihionvien was also named in the squad after missing out against Morecambe the week before.
The Opposition
The last nine games have seen Harrogate shoot up the table from mid-table to play-off contention for the final third of the season.
Picking up twenty points from their last nine games, only losing one, Simon Weaver’s side are now sitting eighth in the standings and only outside of the play-off places on goal difference.
Their last game, a 1-1 draw on the road at league leaders, Stockport County, saw them make it five games unbeaten since the turn of the year, with Weaver saying it was no less than his team deserved.
“I’m proud of the overall performance, we showed that we’re very competent and with a good style of play. From start to finish, we were fully committed to the way we wanted to play. With each good performance, it gives you that extra bit of confidence.”
Within Harrogate’s squad, there isn’t a runaway leading goal scorer – George Thomson has the most with ten, but is closely trailed by Jack Muldoon and Sam Folarin eight apiece, with Abraham Odoh only two behind them on six.
Thirty-one-year-old Thomson (pictured above) has been with the Sulphurites since 2017, helping them to two promotions in his seven years at Whetherby Road. Now making well over 200 outings for the club, he has surpassed his highest scoring season (eight in 2018/19), with his last strike coming on New Year’s Day in the 2-2 draw at Morecambe.
However, perhaps the most dangerous player for Saturday’s opponents is attacking midfielder Matty Daly. The twenty-two-year-old made the permanent move to Harrogate in the summer from Huddersfield after spending last campaign there on loan, and has contributed with eight assists in the league – the second most, only behind Jodi Jones’ (Notts County) tally of seventeen.
Last Time We Met
The U's got off to a good start against Harrogate in the last meeting with Chay Cooper firing in what then proved to be the League Two Goal of the Month. However, two quickfire goals from Matty Daly and Sam Folarin turned the game in favour of the visitors, who took all three points.
Ticket Info
Tickets are on sale from the U's Ticket Office for this weekend's match against Harrogate Town. Call 01206 755161 between 10am and 3pm or visit the JCS in person between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday. Tickets go off sale at 2pm on Friday 9th February, subject to availability. Click HERE for more information.
iFollow
If you can’t make it to Yorkshire on Saturday afternoon, you can listen to all the action live with a £2.50 Audio Pass available to supporters in the UK. Click HERE to see what options are available to you.
