Phil Yelland dips into the archives to find out how Harrogate Town have done on previous visits to Barrow ahead of this weekend's League Two encounter.
Saturday sees the visit of Harrogate Town to The Dunes Hotel Stadium and we will be looking to end a run of six games against them (home and away) without a win.
Last season saw Town’s first visit to Barrow in the Football League, when they came to us in early March and collected all three points in a 1-0 win. The only goal arrived in the game from substitute Jack Muldoon as they completed the double over us.
During the non- league years, we met on many occasions in different competitions.
It’s a measure of how far Town have come that in our first meeting here, back in September 1993, we defeated them 6-1 in an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie. The goals that day came from Neil Doherty (4), Barry Butler and Steve Watt.
Our first league meeting came in the UniBond League Premier Division in March 2003. Town had won at Wetherby Road in November and completed the double with a 2-1 win – out goal was a last-minute effort from Mark Salmon.
We didn’t beat Town here in a league game until they visited in Nationwide North in April 2005 when the winner came from local midfield player Gareth Simpson.
Our last triumph over them on home soil came as far back as August Bank Holiday Monday 2013 in Blue Square North when a free kick from Sam Sheridan gave us a 1-0 win. It was our first victory following relegation from Blue Square Premier in our fourth game of the campaign.
Since then, there have been four league meetings here – two draws and two defeats.
Our last win over them here came in an FA Trophy First Round replay on a cold night in December 2016. We ran out 4-2 winners after extra time, with goals from Akil Wright (2), Ross Hannah and Lindon Meikle.
So, 16 meetings here between the teams in all competitions have seen eight wins, three draws and five defeats. Let’s hope it’s win number nine for us this weekend.