Match report

Harrogate Town Defeats Blackpool 4-2 in EFL Trophy Thriller

Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town
4–2
FT
Blackpool
Blackpool
Dec 2, 2025

Harrogate Town stuns Blackpool with a dominant 4-2 victory in the EFL Trophy. Early goals by Reece Smith, A. O'Connor, and a brace from J. Muldoon set the tone, while Blackpool managed to score late through E. Hansson and A. Fletcher.

Key Facts

  • • Reece Smith opened the scoring for Harrogate Town in the 7th minute, assisted by Jack Evans
  • • A. O'Connor scored the second goal for Harrogate in the 13th minute
  • • J. Muldoon added a brace, with his first goal in the 17th minute and his second in the 84th minute
  • • E. Hansson scored Blackpool's first goal in the 45th minute, assisted by J. Husband
  • • A. Fletcher scored Blackpool's second goal in the 73rd minute, assisted by Jordan Brown

Lineups

Harrogate Town

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 31 J. Belshaw (G)
  • 2 Z. Asare (D)
  • 15 A. O'Connor (D)
  • 6 W. Burrell (D)
  • 3 J. Slater (D)
  • 8 B. Morris (M)
  • 27 B. Fox (M)
  • 17 L. Sutton (M)
  • 18 J. Muldoon (M)
  • 22 R. Smith (M)
  • 4 J. Evans (F)

Substitutes

  • 1 M. Oxley
  • 9 S. McCoulsky
  • 14 C. McAleny
  • 23 K. Jameson
  • 25 T. Cursons
  • 28 M. Etherington
  • 44 J. Falkingham

Blackpool

Formation: 3-1-4-2

Starting XI

  • 25 F. Ravizzoli (G)
  • 2 A. Lyons (D)
  • 5 F. Horsfall (D)
  • 3 J. Husband (D)
  • 7 L. Evans (M)
  • 22 C. Hamilton (M)
  • 23 S. Banks (M)
  • 29 E. Hansson (M)
  • 26 Z. Ashworth (M)
  • 11 A. Fletcher (F)
  • 14 T. Bloxham (F)

Substitutes

  • 32 H. Bardsley
  • 4 O. Casey
  • 6 J. Brown
  • 15 H. Coulson
  • 40 T. Upton
  • 41 T. Bondo
  • 46 O. Nwankwo

Timeline

  1. Harrogate Town
    7' Harrogate Town Goal · Normal Goal
    Reece Smith · Assist: Jack Evans
  2. Harrogate Town
    13' Harrogate Town Goal · Normal Goal
    A. O'Connor
  3. Harrogate Town
    17' Harrogate Town Goal · Normal Goal
    J. Muldoon · Assist: Reece Smith
  4. Blackpool
    45' Blackpool Goal · Normal Goal
    E. Hansson · Assist: J. Husband
  5. Blackpool
    46' Blackpool subst · Substitution 1
    Off: C. Hamilton · On: Jordan Brown
  6. Blackpool
    51' Blackpool Card · Yellow Card
    L. Evans

    Foul

  7. Blackpool
    61' Blackpool subst · Substitution 2
    Off: J. Husband · On: H. Coulson
  8. Blackpool
    73' Blackpool Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Fletcher · Assist: Jordan Brown
  9. Harrogate Town
    75' Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 1
    Off: B. Fox · On: S. McCoulsky
  10. Harrogate Town
    84' Harrogate Town Goal · Normal Goal
    J. Muldoon · Assist: B. Morris
  11. Harrogate Town
    90'+1 Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Levi Sutton · On: C. McAleny

Match Stats

Stat Harrogate Town Blackpool
Fouls 15 6
Pass Accuracy 61% 75%
Offsides 2 3
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 9 21
Corners 5 10
Total Passes 324 465
Yellow Cards 0 1
Blocked Shots 1 6
Shots on Target 5 8
xG — —
Shots off Target 3 7
Possession 40% 60%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 198 347
Shots Inside Box 5 16
Saves 5 1
Shots Outside Box 4 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Harrogate Town's early blitz in the first 20 minutes, scoring three goals, was crucial in establishing a commanding lead
  • ▸ Blackpool's late push in the second half, with goals from E. Hansson and A. Fletcher, failed to turn the tide despite their efforts