SUPER TOWN’S LOVE STORY
EBBSFLEET UNITED 0 HARROGATE TOWN 2
SIMON WEAVER wants to make sure his players feel the love after Harrogate extended their unbeaten away record to keep the pressure on leaders Salford. Town have been superb on the road since promotion from National North, taking 18 of a possible 24 points on their travels.
Weaver’s side are just a point off the top with almost a third of the season gone but he vowed to keep his players grounded.
“Everyone in the changingroom is buzzing,” he said. “We’re enjoying every minute.
“But we’re not taking anything for granted and no-one’s getting too big for their boots because we know it can be a ruthless level.
“Anyone who starts thinking we don’t have to put a shift in won’t be here long because they won’t fit into that group.
“We’re trying to protect what we’ve got in terms of the personnel, to make sure they feel loved here, because we don’t want to look elsewhere and damage that feeling.”
This game, played in atrocious conditions, went to form as Ebbsfleet’s abysmal home record continued with a sixth defeat in eight matches.
James Belshaw was virtually a spectator in the Town goal as the men in red huffed and puffed but created almost nothing. George Thomson blazed over when a cross from the left picked him out at the near post while Myles Weston fired a freekick into the wall at the other end.
Harrogate hit the front on 30 minutes when Callum Howe got up between Dave Winfield and Chris Bush to head Joe Leesley’s right-wing corner inside the far post.
Bush’s dangerous cross was volleyed over by Weston as Fleet made a rare entry into the Harrogate box.
Fleet changed personnel and shape at half-time but it made little difference. Direct play into striker Danny Kedwell failed to trouble Town, whose defensive organisation never wavered.
A quick free-kick from Thomson caught Ebbsfleet napping 19 minutes from time but Aaron Williams was alive to the situation and lashed the ball past Nathan Ashmore.
Fleet never looked like getting back into the game and their wretched form at Stonebridge Road is undermining any hopes of matching last season’s play-off qualification.
Manager Daryl McMahon said: “It’s painful. It’s unusual for me as a manager. Simple little things that we’re normally good at, we’re not at the minute.
“When you go a goal down, sometimes it’s hard to be mentally strong on the pitch. The second goal affected us and we have to get better in the key moments. How many times did we get into good positions and kick it out of the ground or into the stand? We’re snatching at things because we’re so desperate to win.
“Decision-making goes when you’re not confident. You end up lashing at things or trying to be too careful and making an extra pass when you could have a shot.”
Confidence, though, is flowing through the Harrogate camp. Weaver said: “The lads produced a very solid away performance.
“To keep a clean sheet against an experienced lad up top [Kedwell] and the force of their defenders coming into the box from set-pieces was very pleasing.” STAR MAN: Callum Howe (Harrogate) ATT: 1,169 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Richard Hulme (5/10)