Harrogate Town v Exeter City: Period of inactivity has been used to good effect, says Josh Falkingham

The combination of cold weather, a power-cut and some questionable refereeing mean that the last time the Sulphurites completed a home game at the EnviroVent Stadium was on December 19 when they lost 1-0 to Salford City.

Since the turn of year, they have played just once - going down 2-1 at Cambridge United - though there has been a conscious effort within the camp to use the last few weeks positively.

"It's been a really peculiar season and the last few weeks haven't been ideal with us hardly playing, but we had to make sure that we used the break we've had to our advantage," Town captain Josh Falkingham said, speaking ahead of Tuesday's League Two clash with Exeter City.

"We have tried to turn it into a positive. We've used the time well, we've got through a lot of work on the training ground and we've been able to welcome the new signings and try and help them to settle in.

"They had hardly had chance to train before we played Cambridge, so the games being off has given them the opportunity to get to know us all a bit better. They need to understand us and how we play, but we also need to develop an understanding of them as well.

"After a really hectic schedule, we've been able to rest the legs a little bit and re-energise and we're now fully prepared for the second half of the season, and games coming thick and fast once again."

Town were supposed to entertain Exeter last Saturday, but the game was called off on Friday afternoon with Wetherby Road covered in snow.

That postponement was the fourth that Harrogate have been forced into since Christmas, and none of them have been due to Covid-19 issues.

Last Tuesday's scheduled game at home to Carlisle United was called off as a result of a power outage in the local area. That contest had originally been due to take place on December 29, but was abandoned after just 10 minutes because referee Martin Coy deemed the pitch to have become unsafe.

Town's home game against Cheltenham on January 2 was also postponed due to a frozen pitch, meaning that Falkingham and his team-mates will be hoping that it is a case of fifth time lucky this Tuesday evening.

"It's not been ideal for anybody, this situation and the disruption has been really frustrating for all the players, for everyone really, but there's nothing we could have done about it," Harrogate's skipper added.

"It is what it is. You can't control the weather but after playing just one game in almost a month we are getting to the point where we are desperate to get back out on the pitch.

"Like I say, we have worked hard and prepared well and now we just have to try and make sure that we hit the ground running. We proved that we are capable of that when we returned for the play-offs in the summer, and that's the aim once again now."

Kick-off between Town and Exeter at the EnviroVent Stadium on Tuesday night is at 6.30pm.