Harrogate Town desperate to find a goal threat

For the second Saturday in succession, the Sulphurites were edged out 1-0, though the home reverse at the hands of promotion-chasing Forest Green was somewhat easier to palate than this most recent failure against a very average Morecambe outfit.

While Harrogate’s overall display was far from awful, the similarities between this latest performance and the one they served up seven days earlier were concerning.

Set up once again in a 4-3-3 formation, Simon Weaver’s players enjoyed plenty of possession without threatening.

Harrogate defended solidly for large periods but once again the opposition’s breakthrough would arrive soon after half-time and could have been avoided.

Ryan Fallowfield misjudged Adam Phillips’s right-wing centre at the back post and jumped under the ball, allowing Aaron Wildig the simple task of nodding home unmarked in the 56th minute past the excellent James Belshaw.

“I thought we played well in general for 90 minutes. We had a lot of the ball, but again it’s the same old story,” reflected central defender Hall.

“We have a lot of the ball in their half but can’t really get in behind them and then switch off for one moment at the back and they score a goal. It’s been the story of the last month or so now.

“They then sat so deep with their 1-0 lead, got everyone behind the ball and it was hard to break them down.”

Morecambe: Halstead, Mellor, Lavelle, Davis, Cooney, Wildig, Songo’o, O’Sullivan, Mendes-Gomes, Phillips (Kenyon 83), Stockton. Unused substitutes: Turner, Knight-Percival, Diagouraga, Leitch-Smith, McAlinden, Gibson.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Fallowfield, Lawlor, Hall, Burrell, Thomson, Falkingham, Kirby, Kiernan, Martin (Stead 80), Muldoon. Unused substitutes: Cracknell, Beck, Kerry, Miller, Lokko.

Referee: O Yates (Staffs).