[ 1 Apr 24 ] Harrogate Town v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The 3 matches between the sides have ended in 1 win, 1 draw and 1 defeat. There have been 4 clean sheets for both sides and the Gills 1-0 win in the reverse fixture is the only goal scored by the home side.
- Home and away, Harrogate are unbeaten in 4 league games (3 draws) after going winless in 6 (2 draws). Town have won 7 and lost 10 at home and the 23 points is the 5th lowest total - 9 points fewer than their away total (where they have 8 wins and 5 defeats).
- On the road, Harrogate have drawn 6 of their last 7 games but, at home, their 3-0 win over Bradford ended a sequence of 3 successive home defeats.
- Since Harrogate conceded 5 first half goals in their 9-2 loss against Mansfield, they have prevented the opposition from scoring before half time in 8 of the subsequent 9 league games. The Gills have failed to score a first half goal in 19 of their last 23 games.
- Harrogate have managed the fewest number of shots on target in League 2 this season (135). They averaged 3.7 shots on target in their first 31 league games but just 2.1 in the 9 after including 3 games where they failed to take any and 4 in which they managed just 1.
- As well as having the fewest shots on target, Harrogate have also had the fewest shots off target and blocked - a total of 260. Their total shots in the division (395) is 109 fewer than the Gills' total.
- Harrogate have both won the fewest number of corners (171) in League 2 and also conceded the most (273), 102 more than they had won. The Gills have won 233 corners, 65 more than they have given away and the 3rd best difference in the division.
- Harrogate's 14 leads away from home is the joint highest in League 2. They have only managed 10 leads in their home league matches. When they take a lead in League 2, they are ahead from those 24 leads for an average of 29.9 minutes, the lowest duration in the division.

(15:02) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Harrogate Town v Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]

(15.22) Harrogate force bodies-on-the-line defending from the Gills. Morris makes a great save before follow ups were blocked.

(15.29) Coleman plays a decent ball into the box. Hawkins almost gets his head to it but is beaten to it and it's the defender's header instead which almost goes in and gifts the Gills a corner.

(15.42) GOAL! Harrogate Town 0-1 Gillingham: Lapslie.

(15.46) Jonny Williams gets his head to the ball but can't quite get his shape right when a better contact would have been hard to keep out.

(15.48) Half time 0-1

(16.04) The second half kicks off.

(16.18) GOAL! Harrogate Town 1-1 Gillingham: O'Connor

(16.23) Harrogate fire a shot just over the bar. Gills make a triple change.

(16.26) GOAL! Harrogate Town 2-1 Gillingham: Daly

(16.28) GOAL! Harrogate Town 3-1 Gillingham: Daly

(16.48) Ehmer is robbed in defence. The attacker goes through on goal and Morris needs to stay strong.

(16.49) The referee adds on 6 minutes.

(16.52) GOAL! Harrogate Town 4-1 Gillingham: Muldoon

(16.54) GOAL! Harrogate Town 5-1 Gillingham: Odoh

(16.55) FULL TIME 5-1

Attendance: 3,133 (683)
Position: 9th
Referee: Simon Mather
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQjs3jH2CaQ
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68653111