Harrogate Town v Tamworth FC: Sulphurites aiming to build on positive start
Harrogate Town will be aiming to build on their positive start to the 2026/27 season when they play back-to-back home games in the space of four days.
Simon Weaver’s Sulphurites sit second in the National League standings after six rounds of fixtures, having taken 13 points from a possible 18 on offer.
They delivered arguably their most complete performance of the campaign to date last time out, managing their first clean sheet as they won 2-0 on the road at Scunthorpe United.
And Town will doubtless be confident of backing up that result when they entertain struggling Tamworth this Saturday afternoon (12.30pm), before AFC Fylde visit Wetherby Road on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).
While Harrogate have won four and drawn one of their opening six matches, 19th-placed Tamworth have managed just the one victory thus far.
That success came at home to newly-promoted Worthing and was followed up by a 2-2 draw against Boston United last Saturday.
They have only taken one point on their travels, but that was secured courtesy of a 3-3 draw at top-of-the-table Boreham Wood, and makes the Lambs the only team in the division to have avoided defeat against the current league leaders.
Tamworth’s games have certainly not been lacking in entertainment this term, with those six fixtures producing no fewer than 28 goals.
While they have scored 12 themselves, the fact that they have conceded 16 means that they currently have the second-worst defensive record in the National League.
Town, who have found the back of the net 15 times, boast the second most potent attack.
Promoted as National League North champions at the end of 2025/26, Fylde have made a better start to life back in the fifth tier.
After six outings, they occupy sixth position thanks to wins over Tamworth, Forest Green Rovers and Solihull Moors. They have also drawn with Wealdstone and Worthing and suffered just the one defeat – away at Woking.
Town are once again expected to be without the injured sextet of Lewis Payne, Tom Lees, Bryn Morris, Ben Fox, Brayden Johnson and Rohan Vaughan this weekend.
Neither of their senior goalkeepers – Mark Oxley and Rory Watson – are likely to be 100 percent fit in time for the visit of Tamworth, though Luke Hutchinson has this week arrived on a three-month loan deal from Bolton Wanderers to provide cover in that department.
Having returned to the match-day squad for last Saturday’s trip to Scunthorpe United, fit-again winger Ellis Taylor could play some part against Tamworth.
And on-loan Leyton Orient midfielder Michael Craig will also be in contention to make his debut having joined the club earlier this week.