Match preview - Town welcome Colchester looking to extend unbeaten run

8 February 2024

After a hard fought point on the road at Stockport last weekend Town get to set to face Colchester at home ahead of a tough pair of fixtures away from home at Mansfield and Crewe.

The 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park means Town have been defeated just once in nine games, posting six victories in a run of form that has put them outside of the playoff positions only on goal difference.

BUY TICKETS

Our opponents

With three managers at the helm during the 2022/23 season, the U’s pulled away from relegation danger late in the season to finish in 20^th position on 49 points.

They find themselves in a similar position this season too, coming into the clash in 21^st spot on 29 points and with Danny Cowley their third manager in charge with both Ben Garner and Matthew Etherington having departed during 2023/24.

Since Cowley took charge they are unbeaten through four games, drawing three and posting a 1-0 win at Morecambe on their last away outing which also saw a first clean sheet in 15 fixtures.

They have won four and taken 13 points from their 15 games away from home this season.

Previous meetings

Town triumphed 2-1 earlier in the season when Sam Folarin struck ten minutes from time to seal the points after Matty Daly had cancelled out Chay Cooper’s opener.

At The Envirovent Stadium, Town have won one and lost two of their three meetings to date. Last season goals from John Akinde, Noah Chilvers and Junior Tchamadeu put the U’s 3-0 ahead before Luke Armstrong netted a late consolation.

In 2021/22 Town took an early led thanks to Jack Muldoon but goals from Freddie Sears and Noah Chilvers just before half-time saw the visitors run out 2-1 winners. In 2020/21 Town got their only home win when Mark Beck, Will Smith and Josh McPake were on the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory.

The man in charge

Danny Cowley took charge after Matthew Etherington was replaced following a poor spell of results since he himself was appointed following the dismissal of Ben Garner.

Cowley as a player saw action at non-league level for the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge, Boreham Wood, Hornchurch and Concord Rangers, who he became manager of in 2008 until 2015 when he moved to Braintree Town.

He guided them to the National League play-off semi finals before taking Lincoln City back into the league and quarter-finals of the FA Cup. He had a brief spell in charge at Huddersfield before most recently being manager at League One side Portsmouth.

Ones to watch

The U’s were dealt a blow in early January when top scorer Joe Taylor, who had netted 11 times, was recalled by parent club Luton Town and loaned to League One side Lincoln City.

Midfielders Arthur Read and Cameron McGeehan have both found the target on five occasions, with young forward Samson Tovide scoring four times. Fellow youngsters Bradley Ihionvien and Jayden Fevrier have assisted on three and four goals respectively.

Back in the visitors defence will be former Town-man Connor Hall, part of the side that earned promotion to the EFL as well triumphing in the FA Trophy, who recently returned to the line-up following injury.

During the January transfer window the club added Riley Harbottle, Jayden Richardson, Alistair Smith and Harry Anderson on loan deals with forward Conor Wilkinson joining on a permanent basis from Motherwell. All have seen meaningful minutes since arriving.

History

A long-time member of the Football League for most of their existence, Colchester have found themselves in League Two since suffering relegation from League One in 2016.

They did though spend two years in the Championship between 2006 and 2008, achieving a highest finish of 10^th place before being relegated to League One after the 2007/08 season.

Their all-time appearance holder is Micky Cook, who featured over 600 times for the club in the 1970’s and early 1980’s, whilst Tony Adcock netted 149 times across two spells in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Team news

Town continue to be without longer term absentees Mark Oxley, Lewis Thomas, Rod McDonald and Sam Folarin but could have Toby Sims and Abraham Odoh back, after our number 9 limped off at Stockport a week ago.

Match Reports

TOWN 1-0 Colchester United - Late Muldoon strike seals all three points

10 February 2024

Town grabbed a late, late winner against a resolute Colchester United side at the Envirovent Staidum this afternoon thanks to Jack Muldoon’s goal two minutes into stoppage time, earning a 1-0 win saw them move up into the playoff positions.

Without a game at home for over a month Town had climbed the table with an impressive set of away results but struggled to find a way past the U’s, who had provided plenty of threat of their own, until Muldoon pounced after keeper Owen Goodman had parried Matty Daly’s shot.

Town made one change to the side that earned a valuable point at Stockport a week ago with fit-again Anthony O’Connor returning in place of Warren Burrell, who dropped down to the bench.

The visitors were forced into one change with Arthur Read missing out through injury. The midfielder was replaced by Cameron McGeehan.

And it was McGeehan who almost put the visitors ahead in the opening minute when his speculative volley forced a reaction save from James Belshaw.

Noah Chilvers followed that moments later with a long range effort that deflected just over the Town bar.

Anthony O’Connor intercepted a loose ball on five minutes, with the play finding its way through to Jack Muldoon who turned smartly and fired at goal but his effort was too close to Owen Goodman.

The U’s had the better of the opening stages of the game, their purposeful and cohesive play belying the fact that they had four January arrivals in the starting line-up.

Alistair Smith then glanced a header at the near post which flashed across goal. Had his effort been on target the visitors may have grabbed an early lead.

Town woke from their early slumber on fifteen minutes when Derrick Abu, making his home debut, raced down the right and crossed into the danger area with the ball almost falling perfectly for George Thomson.

Smith then had another effort from distance which warmed the hands of Belshaw in the Town goal before Riley Harbottle was shown a yellow card for a hauling back Abraham Odoh, a tactical in every sense of the word that may have earned him a blue card.

With ten minutes remaining before the break Belshaw ensured Town remained on level terms with a wonderful save to turn Chilvers’s powerful effort over the bar for a corner.

McGeehan was the second name to go into the book just before the break for a late challenge on Stephen Dooley with the Town side knowing there was plenty of work to do as they headed down the tunnel.

There were served notice in the opening minutes of the second-half though when a neat move on the edge of the Town box saw Harry Anderson fire just beyond the far post.

Town responded well though and being to force a spell of pressure of their own. Abraham Odoh in particular was more incisive and he forced a succession of corners from the left-hand side.

Goodman was then shown a yellow card for taking too long to take a goal kick, not the first time he had invoked the referees ire in that regard.

Odoh then profited from a wonderful cross-field ball from Thomson, but with plenty of time at his disposal he delayed a fraction too long and his shot was blocked.

Both managers had been happy to trust the eleven they started with but with twenty minutes remaining Danny Cowley made a change that saw Jay Mingi replaced Jayden Fevrier, before making a further pir of substitutions with John Akinde and Matt Jay replacing McGeehan and Tom Hopper.

Smith then leapt higher than Belshaw from a corner kick but couldn’t direct his header on target as the game entered the final ten minutes.

Anderson delivered a low cross with five minutes remaining but Belshaw was alert to the task and smothered the danger.

The final minutes were played with a frustrating series of stoppages with neither side fashioning an opportunity to grab all three points until Muldoon struck to secure three vital points.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Colchester (H) fixture information

15 January 2024

We welcome Colchester United to The EnviroVent Stadium on Saturday 10th February for our latest round of Sky Bet League Two action, kick-off 3pm.

Tickets

Tickets are on sale online up until kick-off or from our Commercial Street Store during opening times.

BUY NOW

Tickets can be purchased at our advance rate until midnight on Friday 9th February, after which point prices will increase by £2 or £1 depending on category.

Prices

Prices for this fixture can be seen below.

For the 2023/24 season, purchasing a ticket in advance will be cheaper than purchasing from 12am onwards on the day of the game. Admission prices will increase on a matchday (from 12am), by £2 for over 18s and £1 for U18s.

Programme

As always, our match programme will be on sale for just £3 inside the ground on matchday.

Alternatively, you can read for free on our website 24 hours before kick-off

Match programmes

How to Follow

Updates will be provided across our social media channels and via our Live Match Centre, where text and audio commentary can be accessed.

Pre-Match Entertainment

Turnstiles open from 1:30pm, along with our supporters' bars and matchday food kiosks.

You will find our marquee bar located between the GH Brooks and Black Sheep stand, and our Supporters bar between underneath the EnviroVent Stand, next to the Exercise.co.uk hospitality suite.

Both bars serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including 'Yellow Black Army' and Black Sheep's popular 'Respire'.

Hot and cold food is available from multiple locations inside our ground, for a full matchday menu click here.

Our Exercise.co.uk hospitality suite will also be open, to book your place email joannetowler@harrogatetownafc.com.

Club Shop

Supporters can buy a range of merchandise from our new-look club shop inside the stadium, located next to the North Gate. Open from 1:30pm, our shop sells replica shirts, accessories, match programmes and more.

Further information, including travel and stadium safety is available in our matchday guide.

Safety notice

We would like to remind supporters that they must not throw items of any sort onto the pitch.

The club is aware of, and concerned by, the increasing number of occurrences of items being thrown, which contravene the EFL ground regulations.

all items thrown are considered missiles, regardless of what is thrown and whether or not it hits anyone.

Any supporter identified by the clubs CCTV will be issued a significant club ban and may also face potential police action.