League Two strugglers have ‘one way ticket’ back to non league amid 10-game winless run

League Two strugglers Harrogate Town have ‘one way ticket’ back to non league according to their manager amid a 10-game winless run.

The club fell to a 2-1 defeat against Colchester United, under new manager Matt Bloomfield, on Saturday afternoon, and it was the seventh defeat in their last eight league matches, leaving them 22nd in the table, ahead of second-from-bottom Rochdale on goal-difference alone.

The hosts went ahead just eight minutes in when Kwesi Appiah got on to Tom Dallison’s long punt forward and sent the ball past goalkeeper Pete Jameson before tapping into the empty net.

Frank Nouble nearly made it 2-0 in the 23rd minute when his far-post header from Luke Hannant’s deep cross hit a post.

Colchester made up for that when extending their scoreline in the 37th minute when Nouble converted at the far post from Junior Tchamadeu’s low cross following a free-kick.

Harrogate got one back in the 57th minute through Alex Pattison, who finished from close range after Danny Grant reacted quickest following keeper Sam Hornby’s poor clearance and picked him out.

Jameson pushed over Hannant’s shot and Harrogate substitute Warren Burrell cleared a Hannant effort off the line after Jameson had prevent Alex Newby from netting as Colchester saw out victory, their second in the league this season.

This is Harrogate’s third ever season in the EFL having spent the entirety of their 106-year history before 2020 playing below the fourth tier.

But their form and results elsewhere sees them plummeting down the division and fans are concerned the Sulphurites will be in a relegation battle.

Manager Simon Weaver admitted that he has to “do better” following his side’s most recent defeat of what has been a difficult campaign.

He confirmed that he has no intention of “chucking the towel in” and walking away from the challenge just yet, saying now is the time for players to step up and show they are able to guide the side up and away from the drop zone.

“We’re in a scrap here and it takes characters, we need people coming out of their shells and fighting for the club, first and foremost,” the Harrogate chief said.

“We’re deadly serious about doing well. There has to be a lightbulb moment, a bottoming out. If there isn’t, we don’t want that relegation word attached to Harrogate Town.

“We want a fightback, we want courage. Players have to realise that and it has to be now.

“We have to bottom out and see these faults, look deeply into the mirror because we’ve got a one-way ticket to going down at the minute because we are nearly men, every single one of us, and we all have to perform so much better than we have been.”

This is what fans said as the League Two strugglers have a ‘one way ticket’ back to non league according to their manager amid a 10-game winless run…

@Jono_Way: He’s dropped 54 of the last 72 points. He needs to hand in his resignation this evening. The Club must immediately secure a Football League quality Manager to enable it to continue to progress.
Weaver’s race is run. Time to GO.

@Dan98064059: Think it’s time to go Simon

@Moody_Chops: Dare Daddy sack his son?

@jamesbean56: Dismal yet again, Weaver go now you have done your best but for the sake of the club go

@Morgan0352: Weaver out 💛🖤

@SamDaly75982661: Weavers at the wheel 🎶🎶🎶

@HarrogateDown: Pathetic. If the chairman’s son stays he’ll take them down and they’ll never see the football league again. Time to get our relegation party booked 🥳

@paulwood72: How is he still in a job????!!!

@elvingtonred2: He’s fine where he is, daddy will look after him. They only took 23 away, joke of a club. 🎶 Going down going down going down 🎶

@yorkshire_kk: Daddy will look after him, NL here they come

@lammymps: He would of been sacked if it was any other chairman, keep him in charge I say 😉 the only way is down 😁 #tinpot

@1974db: Surely time for a new manager. Boss’s son can only do so much

@_crjones: Hurtling back towards non league

@dalesman1000: Something has to change. Relegation form since Christmas. Going backwards.

@ChrisRedshaw6: Weaver has taken us as far as he can, time to go before we’re relegated in march.

@the__DAW: Think Harrogate were saved last season because it ended when it did. Another month might have seen them drop. Nothing like the same safety net now.

HARROGATE’S UPCOMING FIXTURES

Sat 15 Oct (H) Hartlepool United – League Two – 12.30pm
Tue 18 Oct (H) Morecambe – EFL Trophy – 7pm
Sat 22 Oct (H) Tranmere Rovers – League Two – 3pm
Tue 25 Oct (A) Walsall – League Two – 7.45pm
Sat 29 Oct (A) AFC Wimbledon – League Two – 3pm
Tue 8 Nov (H) Carlisle United – League Two – 7.45pm
Sat 12 Nov (H) Leyton Orient – League Two – 3pm
Sat 19 Nov (H) Mansfield Town – League Two – 3pm
Sat 3 Dec (A) Rochdale – League Two – 3pm
Sat 10 Dec (H) Northampton Town – League Two – 3pm
Sat 17 Dec (A) Doncaster Rovers – League Two – 3pm
Mon 26 Dec (H) Grimsby Town – League Two – 3pm
Thu 29 Dec (A) Bradford City – League Two – 7.45pm