Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Harrogate play host to Stevenage at their EnviroVent Stadium in a highly-anticipated League Two game. The Sulphurites aim to recover from a 3-1 loss to Colchester, with the team eyeing their fifth home win of the process, but they will have a big fish to fry in Saturday’s clash. Since all Will Smith, Matty Dale, Kyle Ferguson, Stephen Dooley, Joe Mattock, and Josh Coley have been struggling with injuries of late, home win should not be considered.
The Boro, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Crawley Town and Gillingham. Stevenage are on the right track to secure automatic promotion, and we predict that they will take advantage of the current situation in Harrogate’s dressing room. There are no fresh injury concerns in the away team ahead of the trip to North Yorkshire.
Highlighted Player (Mark Oxley):
Born in Sheffield, England, on the 2nd of June, 1990, Oxley's football journey started as a Rotherham youth product. The English International signed his first professional contract with the Millers in 2007 but failed to make a single appearance for the club during that season.
The following season, he signed for Hull City, who, in turn, sent him out on successive loans to clubs like Walsall, Grimbsy Town, Oldham Athletic, and Hibernian. The 6ft 3-inch goalkeeper's professional debut meanwhile, came on the 27th of February, 2010, playing for Grimbsy in a 2-0 away loss to Dagenham in League Two. Oxley's performance during his six-month loan period with Hibernian earned him a permanent deal. He signed a two-year contract starting with the club in July 2015. In his time at the Scottish outfit, he made 90 appearances and kept 35 clean sheets. Oxley then joined his current club Southend in July 2016 on an initial two-year deal.
He had a fantastic first season, winning both fans' player of the year and players' player of the year awards. As of August 2018, Oxley has signed a contract extension and also got given the captain's armband. On the International forefront, the 29-year-old is a former youth International having capped once for England at the under-18 level.
Highlighted Team (Stevenage):
Based in Hertfordshire, England, Stevenage Borough are a professional club that compete in the League Two. The Boro are well known for their red and white home hit, while dark blue is the dominant colour of their away kit. Stevenage play their home games at Broadhall Way, the stadium which can hold up to 6,722 spectators and they were founded in 1976.
The Boro have won FA Trophy on two occasions (2006/07, 2008/09), with the team clinching the Herts Senior Cup title in the 2008/09 season thanks to a 2-1 win over Cheshunt. Luton are considered one of the club’s biggest rivals and there have always been fireworks in matches between the two sides.
In 2015 fighting broke out between rival fans near to the end of the clash at the Lamex. It has to be noted that Stevenage Borough were founded in 1976 after the bankruptcy of Stevenage Athletic.