Simon Weaver has told his Harrogate Town players to 'keep doing what you've been doing' ahead of a major National League test against leaders Boreham Wood. The Sulphurites travel to face the unbeaten title favourites on Saturday looking to bounce back from a midweek home defeat.
Weaver spoke to BBC Radio York after Tuesday's 2-1 loss to AFC Fylde ended a run of three straight wins. He emphasised the importance of maintaining the squad's high standards in training despite the setback. "It’s been important to tell the players just to keep doing what you’ve been doing in training because you are preparing well for games and performing tremendously well," the manager said.
Fine margins at the top
Harrogate Town sit fifth in the table with 16 points from eight matches, just four points behind Boreham Wood at the summit. Their recent form shows three wins and two losses from the last five games. Weaver believes his team is in a strong position as they continue to gel. "We are talking about fine tuning eight games into the season," he explained. "We have got a really big test on Saturday away from home, but we are only four points off the top of the league."
The manager's primary criticism of the Fylde defeat was a lack of sharpness in front of goal, with long spells of possession not yielding enough reward. Emyr Taylor's 87th-minute consolation came too late to alter the result after the visitors had struck twice in the final 11 minutes. Weaver acknowledged the need for improvement in finishing but praised the overall approach. "Of course we will look to do better in front of goal, but it won’t be for the want of trying," he added.
A new group finding its feet
This season has seen significant change at the EnviroVent Stadium, with 18 new players arriving over the summer. Weaver is delighted with how quickly the revamped squad has developed an understanding. "As a brand-new group, they couldn’t have forged an understanding any better than they have in this short period of time," he stated. "I think we can be really excited by the progress made already."
He described the squad as a "delight to manage" and highlighted their positive reaction to disappointment. The team's resilience will be tested against a Boreham Wood side that has won six and drawn two of its opening eight fixtures, scoring 19 goals. The Wood also beat Scunthorpe in midweek and have won both of their home matches so far.
Planning for the leaders
Weaver is under no illusions about the challenge posed by Luke Garrard's side. "The press is important and the organisation has to be right," he noted. "There has been evidence in the games I have seen that Boreham Wood can hurt you if you allow them to do what they want."
He plans to field an athletic team capable of matching the leaders' intensity across the pitch at Meadow Park. "We want to set the team up to handle the way they play, but it can’t just be about counter-attacking," Weaver said. "That’s one element, but it’s also about us having control too."
Harrogate Town's full fixtures list shows the importance of this match in a busy period. Fans can check the latest standings to see how the table shapes up after this weekend's action. The squad, which includes recent scorers like Emyr Taylor and Jack Hmami, will be looking to close the gap at the top when they kick off at 3pm on Saturday.
The original report is at Harrogate Advertiser
