Simon Weaver was “ecstatic” and felt that Harrogate “fully deserved” their 3-1 League Two comeback victory over Fleetwood which secured their Football League status for another season.
The Sulphurites recovered from falling a goal down early in the second half to take all three points from Easter Monday’s fixture at Wetherby Road, with that result moving them nine points clear of the relegation zone, with two games remaining.
Kobei Moore fired the Cod Army into a 51st-minute lead, but Jasper Moon and Ellis Taylor scored in quick succession to turn the game on its head before substitute Tom Cursons wrapped things up at the death.
And there was no doubt in the Harrogate manager’s mind that his team warranted their win.
“I’m ecstatic with the performance, I thought that we fully deserved the three points and the scoreline as well,” Weaver said.
“The lads have shown big character again. We go a goal down to Fleetwood’s first shot, but we reacted positively.
“A number of times now, we have gone a goal behind and bounced back – and that sums up the last few months.
“I thought that Fleetwood looked pretty flat today, they were inviting us on. We upped the ante and then they did and they had a little spell where they were bopping it around in the middle of the park.
“So, we needed to up it in the attacking third in the second half, but we did that and ended up with three goals, which was great.”
On his emotions at the final whistle after Harrogate’s safety was confirmed, Weaver added: “It was like someone had taken a big lead weight off my shoulders for the first time in about seven months.
“I think that it will take a while for me to properly take it all in because when you’re in this job – it’s been 16 years now – you live and dream it and it is very hard to switch off.
“I need a bit of time to absorb the season as a whole, but, since the turn of the year, we have looked so different as a team – resilient and with a lot of quality.”
Meanwhile, Fleetwood boss Pete Wild was unable to take too many positives from his own side’s display.
“I made a load of changes to make sure that everyone got a game across the weekend and we looked a bit disjointed,” he said.
“I thought that we dealt with what they threw at us quite well in the first half, but we never looked a threat with the ball.
“Second half, for probably 20 minutes we had a good go and we scored, but they were two rubbish goals to give away and two or three (players) gave up – and it was pathetic.”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said he would allow himself a celebratory beer after a 1-0 win at home to 10-man Watford secured their Championship status.Colby Bishop scored his 11th goal of the season to guarantee survival in the second tier with two games to spare.Mousinho said: “I will definitely have a beer tonight, 100 per cent. I think it’s a brilliant achievement.“I don&rsq...
Port Vale boss Darren Moore praised his promotion-chasing side for coming from two goals down to salvage a “vital point” against Grimsby.Danny Rose’s brace, which included a penalty, had the visitors two up, but Lorent Toll pulled one back before Jesse Debrah scored a dramatic equaliser five minutes into added time at Vale Park.The draw left Vale second, a point behind leaders Do...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 4 Liverpool interested in signing Mason Greenwood
- 5 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 6 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 7 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 8 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 9 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 10 Transfer news & rumours LIVE