Forest Green Rovers 2 Harrogate Town 2: Sulphurites showed 'courage' to fight back from two down
Simon Weaver credited his Harrogate Town players for finding the “courage” to fight back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Forest Green Rovers.
Humiliated by Carlisle United in midweek, when they somehow managed to lose 3-0 to nine men, the Sulphurites looked to be headed for another poor result against opponents well below them in the National League standings.
Neil Kengni’s seventh-minute opener was added to by Kyle Kelly on the stroke of half-time to leave Rovers in full control at the interval.
But, having spent most of the first period passing the ball sideways and backwards, Town came out with far more intent about them for the second 45, and reduced the deficit within six minutes of the restart.
Lewis Payne’s precise first-time finish was then followed up by a 56th-minute equaliser when Ellis Taylor crashed the ball home off the underside of the cross-bar following some superb work by Josh Hmami.
Either side could then have gone on and won the game during the final half an hour, but boss Weaver insisted that his own players deserved recognition for finding a way back into Saturday lunchtime’s contest at the New Lawn.
"I think the players showed courage on the ball in the second half, and played with ambition,” he said.
"I thought that it was a little bit safe in the first half, and I can understand that after the other night [at Carlisle]. We’re a possession-based team and want to control games, but if it’s backwards and sideways and not really hurting the opposition when you’re 2-0 down, it can soon look a bit soft and flaky.
"But, I thought that the body language was right. The players came out for the second half looking like they were on it
"I am pleased for the group because I think that was our biggest test mentally, going in at half-time 2-0 down after the other night and the context of that.
“So, I’m pleased with the response of the players because they picked themselves up and grabbed the game right from the kick-off in the second half. We were so much brighter in terms of our game, and belief, and attacking with conviction.”
Despite taking just the one point from their last two matches, Town remain second in the National League standings following Saturday’s result, but will drop to third on goal difference if Southend United win at Wealdstone.