Harrogate Town strikers Jack Muldoon and Jon Stead praised by Simon Weaver following Bradford City success

Having drawn four blanks and managed to score just twice in their previous six matches, last week went much better for Harrogate Town in front of goal.
Jon Stead embraces strike partner Jack Muldoon after the latter opened the scoring during Harrogate Town's win over Bradford City. Pictures: Jonathan GawthorpeJon Stead embraces strike partner Jack Muldoon after the latter opened the scoring during Harrogate Town's win over Bradford City. Pictures: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Jon Stead embraces strike partner Jack Muldoon after the latter opened the scoring during Harrogate Town's win over Bradford City. Pictures: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Tuesday saw them net twice in a 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient, while Saturday brought a 2-1 home victory over Yorkshire rivals Bradford City.

Since returning from a spell out on the sidelines earlier this month, veteran centre-forward Jon Stead has added an extra dimension to the Sulphurites' attacking play and was once again impressive during his side's win over the Bantams.

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But, on this occasion it was strike partner Jack Muldoon who was the star of the show, producing a clinical one-on-one finish to open the scoring before teeing-up Josh McPake's late winner.

Jon Stead takes aim at the Bantams' goal.Jon Stead takes aim at the Bantams' goal.
Jon Stead takes aim at the Bantams' goal.

His contributions at the weekend meant that he now has 13 goals and five assists for the season, and earned him plenty of praise from manager Simon Weaver after the full-time whistle.

“Jack Muldoon had a great game with the goal and the assist," the Harrogate chief said.

“His running power was just stand-out. Out of all the forwards on show I thought that he stood out.

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“I was right in-line behind him for his goal and there was no doubt in my mind about whether he would score.

“It was a clinical finish and he also his work in the build up to our winner was unbelievable.”

Stead meanwhile played his third game in the space of seven weeks having gone three months without making a match-day squad, never mind an appearance.

He once again demonstrated why he spent a good chunk of his long professional career playing the Premier League, holding the ball up to good effect, linking the play intelligently and providing a crucial platform for Town to build attacks from.

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“I don’t know where he gets his energy from. The doping team were at the game and I thought they must have come for him,” Weaver joked.

“But, in all seriousness, he’s just a model pro, but he also plays with an edge - and we’ve got to have that edge if we want to go higher.

“I think he links the play as well as anyone has done all season.

“He knows where to put his body, he puts centre-halves off booming headers, there’s the clever hold-up play and he’ll show for the ball in tight areas and back himself.”