Josh Hmami repays Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver's faith with two goals in as many matches
Josh Hmami said he was thrilled to be able to “repay” the “faith” shown in him by Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver by scoring in both of his first two games for the club.
The 26-year-old attacking midfielder joined the Sulphurites from National League rivals Halifax for an undisclosed transfer fee earlier this summer, but arrived at Wetherby Road carrying a minor injury.
As a result, he missed each of his new side’s opening three games, but made an instant impact on his first appearance – scoring just nine minutes after entering the fray as a half-time substitute, away at Aldershot on Friday evening.
That heavily-deflected shot was followed by the equalising goal during Bank Holiday Monday’s 2-1 success over Gateshead, a fine effort which saw Hmami find the net from almost 25 yards out.
And the former Accrington Stanley ace was quick to dedicate those two strikes to his manager.
“It’s a great feeling,” Hmami said as he reflected on his positive start to life in North Yorkshire. “Obviously, coming in injured, the gaffer has shown a lot of faith in me to still sign me.
"So, I just wanted to repay him and the full management team, who have been brilliant with me.
"I’ve really, really enjoyed my time here so far. I have settled in really well and I feel like that is showing on the pitch. So, long may that continue.”
Monday’s 2-1 success over Gateshead saw Town bounce back immediately from their 3-1 defeat to Aldershot three days earlier, and Hmami believes that a positive response to that first loss of the season was crucial.
"It’s important that when you lose a game, that you show a reaction and it doesn’t lead to two or three losses,” he added.
"That is easily done because this is a tough league, but we have reacted really well and got the three points against Gateshead, which is the main thing.
"I thought that we dominated the game from minute one. We did our patterns [of play] that we had worked on throughout the week and stuck to our game-plan.
"Obviously we conceded a bit of a freak goal, but we showed character and have come back and scored two, which says a lot about the group.”
Town, who sit fifth in the National League standings after five outings, return to action when they visit Scunthorpe United this Saturday (3pm).