Swindon Town have closed in on the automatic promotion places after a smash-and-grab late victory at Harrogate Town thanks to Aaron Drinan’s 17th goal of the campaign.
Swindon’s Irish talisman Drinan made no mistake from the spot, allowing the Robins to take home all three much needed points on a bitterly cold Yorkshire evening.
The visitors were given the penalty somewhat against the run of play as Harrogate looked the more likely side to take the lead.
But a lapse in concentration from recently recruited loanee Henry Gray in goal gave Swindon Town a golden opportunity to snatch a result from the hands of the home team.
Gray committed to rush and attempt to gather the ball from onrushing Fletcher Holman, who reached the ball before the Harrogate keeper and was inevitably taken down.
Overall, the Sulphurites were a much improved outfit than what they’ve showed in previous weeks and were ‘the better team’ according to manager Simon Weaver.
Meanwhile, Harrogate were debatably unlucky to not get anything from the game.
The return of Ellis Taylor at half-time was an inspired substitution for the hosts, the winger linked up nicely with creator Reece Smith and bright young talent Emmerson Sutton to create plenty of goal scoring chances.
The three injected some much needed excitement amongst the Harrogate faithful who braved the arctic conditions.
Another noticeable difference in performance for the hosts was their solidity defensively through the centre back partnership of in-stadium Player of the Match Liam Gibson and January addition Cathal Heffernan.
Their ability to withhold Drinan from open play gave Harrogate a platform to attack the game from, which unfortunately for them couldn’t be capitalised on.
Weaver stated after the game that he’s ‘proud of them [Harrogate],’ after their performance and acknowledges that they’re ‘in a scrap now.’
However the longest serving manager in the Football League has faith in his much-adapted squad after the busy window, explaining that ‘these lads have got enough character, enough ability and attitude to get us out of it [relegation zone].’
