Barnet travel to Wetherby Road to take on Harrogate Town tomorrow night as John Still’s side remain on the hunt for their first win of the season.
The Bees were on the receiving end of a 2-1 score-line at the weekend when they played host to Eastleigh. Charlee Adams bagged a consolation goal in stoppage time after strikes from Michael Green and Paul McCallum sealed maximum points for the Spitfires.
Attentions now turn to Tuesday night as the Bees aim to put the disappointments of Saturday’s clash behind them.
Tomorrow’s match also marks the first time that Barnet and Harrogate have come up against each other.
Last Meeting:
This is the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides following Harrogate’s promotion last season which now sees them playing at the highest level in their history.
Manager: Simon Weaver
Appointed manager in 2009, Simon Weaver is the second longest-serving boss in the National League behind Paul Doswell of Sutton United.
The former defender began his career at Sheffield Wednesday before going on to play for the likes of Lincoln City, Kidderminster Harriers and Tamworth amongst many others.
Weaver endured a rocky start to life at Harrogate when he was appointed player-manager just under ten years ago as his first season in charge saw Town finish bottom of the Conference North. However, after Northwich Victoria faced expulsion from the division due to financial issues, it saved Harrogate from relegation. His player-manager tag was dropped in 2012 when he hung up his boots to claim a permanent position in the Town dug-out.
Weaver then went on to help guide Harrogate to their best ever FA Cup finish during the 2012-13 season after bowing out at the second round stage. However, his biggest achievement at the club came earlier this year when his Town side clinched promotion to the National League.
This campaign will be a very special one for Weaver no matter what the outcome is due to the fact it will be his tenth season in charge of the club.
One to Watch: Dominic Knowles
Dominic Knowles first joined Harrogate from Gainsborough just over five years ago. The striker spent the first half of the 2012-13 season in Lincolnshire before joining Town for the remainder of the campaign.
The former Burnley youngster hit the ground running and bagged ten goals in 12 appearances, helping the club rise towards the play-off spots. However, his first spell at Harrogate was cut short after his impressive form attracted the interest from then League Two outfit Burton Albion.
Knowles completed his move to the EFL ahead of the 2013-14 season but with just three goals to his name and a loan spell away from the club, he became surplus to requirements at The Brewers. After only two years at Burton Albion, the forward returned to Harrogate.
Since rejoining the club, Knowles has bagged 31 goals in just over 60 appearances and very much showed his class towards the back end of last season. The 26-year-old accumulated nine goals in Town’s final three games of last campaign and played a pivotal role in helping them gain promotion. He even found his name on the score-sheet five times in a 5-0 win over Curzon Ashton in April.
As for this campaign, Knowles already has two goals to his name and will be hungry for more tomorrow night. The Bees back-line will have to be on top of their game if they are to prevent the striker’s recent goal scoring form from posing any sort of threat.
Recent Form:
Harrogate are yet to taste a National League victory or defeat so far this season after sharing the points in each of their opening three matches.
The newly-promoted side drew 2-2 in their campaign curtain raiser when they welcomed Sutton United to The CNG Stadium just over a week ago. Ex-Bee Charlie Clough netted for the visitors before goals from Jack Muldoon and Kelvin Langmead thought to have won it for Harrogate. However, Jamie Collins bagged a stoppage time equaliser, preventing Town from kick-starting the season with a win.
It was the same score-line three days later when they travelled to Hartlepool. This time it was Harrogate’s turn to net a stoppage time leveller courtesy of summer signing Callum Howe.
Most recently, Town made the trip to Bromley where Knowles’ 72nd minute equaliser meant Harrogate claimed their third point of the new campaign and grabbed their third draw on the bounce.
