Philosophical Simon Weaver unfazed by 'late twist' as he backs Harrogate Town to win survival fight
Simon Weaver remained philosophical following the late drama which saw his Harrogate Town side slip back into the League Two relegation zone, insisting that he “believes” in his players’ ability to beat the drop.
Having netted a 99th-minute winner against Colchester United in their previous game, the Sulphurites followed that crucial result up with another one as they triumphed 2-0 at Walsall on Saturday afternoon.
Shawn McCoulsky’s fine brace looked as if it was going to send the men from Wetherby Road into their final game of the season outside of the relegation zone, and with their fate in their own hands.
But then Newport County scored in the 108th minute to defeat Oldham, a result which lifted them back above Town and leaves the North Yorkshire side second from bottom of the pile on goal difference.
Weaver, however, accepted that “twists and turns” come with the territory during a relegation dog fight, and was adamant that he and his players have every reason to remain positive about their own chances of survival.
“We had a late twist last week, we came back from the dead in the 99th minute, and other teams have had it this week,” the Harrogate boss said. “Credit to Newport, everybody is scrapping.
“But we are better off again, aren’t we. So much better off than we were when we were last Saturday, when we were hanging off the ropes and waiting for a knock-out blow.
"We are still standing, aren’t we. We are in good nick at a pivotal time for the club and we have got to be positive.
"There has been a great response from two weeks ago at Newport, which seems like years ago, and that’s what I wanted.
"I’d rather Newport hadn’t scored in the dying seconds on Saturday, but I believe in this group of players. There are going to be more twists and turns, but we aren’t half fighting.”
Saturday’s results mean that Town are realistically competing with three other sides for survival, with bottom-of-the-table Barrow now seemingly too far adrift and requiring an unlikely shift in goal difference in order for them to escape the bottom two.
The Sulphurites host Barnet on the final day of 2025/26, knowing that they have to better the result of one of Crawley, Newport or Tranmere in order to stay up.