Two-goal Tom Cursons, far right, is congratulated by his Harrogate Town team-mates after finding the net against Newcastle United Under-21s. Picture: Matt Kirkhamplaceholder image
Two-goal Tom Cursons, far right, is congratulated by his Harrogate Town team-mates after finding the net against Newcastle United Under-21s. Picture: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town finally won a game of football when they beat Newcastle United Under-21s on Tuesday night, but that victory came at a huge cost.
After six consecutive league and cup defeats, the Sulphurites served up an encouraging performance on their way to a 3-1 success in their final EFL Trophy group-stage tie.
Substitute Tom Cursons bagged a second-half brace after Ellis Taylor had struck early on as Simon Weaver‘s men made it three wins from three in the competition to ensure that they topped the Northern Group F table.
But, in doing so, they lost no fewer than four men to injury, with three of those players damaging themselves before the game had even reached its halfway point.
Defender Liam Gibson was the first to limp off after suffering a recurrence of the same hamstring issue that he has only just recovered from after two months out.
His 25th-minute departure was then followed by the exit of Tom Hill late in the first half, with the ex-Liverpool midfielder also pulling his hamstring on what was his own comeback appearance.
Conor McAleny was introduced in Hill's place in the 38th minute, returning to action after missing Harrogate's last two games with a minor groin problem.
But the experienced forward did not reappear for the second period having aggravated that same injury, and was replaced by Cursons.
Then, with the game already won and time almost up, on-loan Doncaster Rovers centre-half Bobby Faulkner also had to be substituted with a hamstring complaint.
And although delighted to see his team get back to winning ways, boss Weaver was unable to hide his dismay regarding those losses of personnel.
"It's a disaster on that front," he said. "Four players, and it doesn't look good for any of them. It is staggering, the injury list, and it makes life difficult as a small club.
"I think we will have one outfield substitute available for a League Two fixture at Notts County on Saturday, which is preposterous. It is ridiculous for this level of football.
"It's injury after injury. Strains and pulls. I don't know yet in terms of the extent of these injuries, but they are normally severe at this place, and we have got to look into why it is so regularly pulling us down.
"I think that Bobby was struggling to walk, so that's not a good sign. Liam Gibson felt that it was the same injury as last time, which means it's a bad hamstring tear, which is not good at all.
"Tom Hill, we just struggle to get him on the pitch, and you could see the touch of class that he can provide.
"It's a shame for the lads first and foremost. I am going to be short, but it's their careers, and they are lovely lads as well."
Town's victory over Newcastle's youngsters follows on from back-to-back 1-0 successes over League One Huddersfield and Mansfield, and guarantees them a home tie at the last 32 stage of the competition.
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