Colchester United boss Danny Cowley couldn’t believe his side didn’t get at least a point in their League Two clash against Harrogate Town.
The U’s dominated the game, having 30 efforts at goal, and should have been ahead on 11 minutes. Harrogate stopper James Belshaw tipped away Teddy Bishop’s free-kick, and it looked like it was to be a long afternoon for the Sulphurites.
Former Sunderland man Tom Flanagan nodded over the bar, while Belshaw was on hand again to push away Samson Tovide’s shot. At the other end, Zico Asare did register an effort for the visitors, but the home side looked likely to lead at half time, with John-Kymani Gordon firing wide when he should have scored.
Tovide was a constant thorn in Harrogate’s side and was seemingly hauled back into the area after halftime, but referee Craig Hicks waved away the protests, much to the home fan’s ire. Tovide then saw another effort saved by Belshaw, who put in an outstanding display.
Against the run of play, the visitors snatched a 68th-minute winner. Matt Macey and Rob Hunt got into a muddle, allowing Sam Folarin to steal a winner. It left former Lincoln boss Cowley utterly perplexed at how his team hadn’t won the game.
“I’ve managed nearly 900 games and I can’t remember ever being as dominant and not winning, let alone losing,” he told Gazette News. “We’ve had 30 shots; we try to stay process orientated and we did a lot right and our performance was good.
“You could argue that we’re probably not clinical enough and I think that would be a fair criticism.”
Cowley was also critical of referee Hicks, who only played three minutes injury time, something that was later admitted to be a mistake as the comms were down between him and the fourth official. it wasn’t the comms that annoyed Colwey; it was the penalty appeal that was waved away.
“Samson’s penalty…what can you say?” added Cowley. “The guy is literally taking the shirt off his back and he’s in the middle of the goal – he’s just going to score and for some reason, he doesn’t think it is a penalty.”
The result leaves his side 17th in the early table, with Premier League Brentford the next visitors in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Writer’s View
This was tough to take – Colchester were the better side and never looked like losing. Until they did.
There’s a really good shout for a penalty that’s been turned down, but credit Belshaw in the Harrogate goal – he was undoubtedly the Man of the Match, pulling off a string of fine saves for Simon Weaver’s side.
Colchester look to be coming together nicely, and if the board show patience, there’s certainly a good argument for them to be around the top ten come the end of the season. They just need to be a little more clinical, that Gordon chance before half time certainly one that should have gone in.
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