‘Big feeling’ for Simon Weaver when Harrogate Town secured League Two status with win over Bradford City Yorkshire News

The Sulfurites, promoted to the Football League for the first time in their history last summer, were challenging the play-offs in late March, though a seven-game winless streak has left them looking over their shoulders in recent years. weeks.

But, Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Bantams brought them to 53 points for the season and means they are now mathematically safe from the slump with four games remaining.

Their recent streak of bad form had seen the Wetherby Road club claim just two points out of the previous 21 on offer, leaving manager Simon Weaver relieved to see his players finally cross the line.

“It’s a great feeling because it has been quite stressful, waiting for it to finally solve mathematically, from what we learned and it was confirmed,” he said.

“It is a beautiful day to do it, especially with a victory in the Yorkshire derby as well.

“It was very important, it really has been too long, it has been a frustrating period. Right at the beginning of this drought of victories we were in contention for seventh place, so we have deviated and it has been frustrating because on several occasions we were so close. to get more points on the board.

“To be honest, if someone had told us at the beginning of the season that ‘you’re going to be safe at this point’, we would have spoken it with both hands because it has been a difficult season without a real break after winning the final of the play- off.

“Ten days later we started the new season and the players have been exhausted at times, but next year we have a second bite of the cherry and hopefully we can improve our position, helped by the fans in the stadium, which will be brilliant. “. . “

Given that Southend United and Grimsby Town have been adrift at the bottom for some time, it would have taken something spectacular for either side to have achieved a series of results that would have allowed them to bring Harrogate back, although Weaver says it did. has seen it happen.

“Being mathematically safe should ease the pressure a bit because it would be naive not to look at the table and think ‘what if they win five on the rebound?’ – which can happen because it’s a crazy league and Grimsby has beaten Bolton, “he added.

“I thought to myself ‘don’t be one of those stories where a disastrous race leads to relegation and an incredible race leads to one of the last two teams that have been there all season suddenly surviving the final day. We have seen it, I have supported a team that fell under those circumstances. Soccer can be ruthless. “

Jack Muldoon beat Richard O’Donnell one-on-one to give Harrogate a 22nd minute lead at EnviroVent Stadium, though City deservedly tied late in the second half when Andy Cook swept home after a good job from substitute Ollie. Crankshaw.

But with the Batams looking more likely to go ahead and win the game, Josh McPake hit a shot in the 89th minute from the edge of the box to restore the hosts’ lead.