Simon Weaver ecstatic with Harrogate intensity in win over Doncaster

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver declared himself “ecstatic” with the intensity his players showed to defeat League Two leaders Doncaster 2-0.

The Sulphurites secured maximum points courtesy of first-half goals from Ellis Taylor and Josh March after Weaver had given the players three days off following back-to-back league defeats and opted to switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

Weaver said: “I’m really happy – ecstatic in fact. We gave the players three days off because I felt they needed a breather and we wanted to win this game so much.

“We don’t like losing and we went into this match having lost the last two games 1-0 to set-piece goals, which has been disappointing, but I think you get what you deserve when you play with the level of intensity we did tonight. We changed to a more traditional 4-4-2 and you can’t carry passengers in that formation and we certainly didn’t.

“There were spells when we were under siege, which is understandable because they are top of the league and have good players, but our concentration levels throughout were exemplary and we made sure we were studious to see the game through. This game meant a lot to all of the players in front of the Sky cameras.

“There’s a lot of pride at this football club and the fans’ reaction to the final whistle was brilliant.”

Doncaster boss Grant McCann, meanwhile, lamented an uncharacteristically blunt attacking display by his team, who failed to net in a regular league game for the first time since January 13.

He also claimed referee Thomas Kirk’s decision to play advantage rather than award the visitors a free-kick for a foul on Luke Molyneux in the build up to the first goal proved a pivotal moment.

“I thought we were good for long spells of the game,” McCann said.

“We had a lot of territory, but were not as clinical as we have been.

“We got into the final third quite easily but, then, our crosses were blocked too easily and we didn’t get enough shots off. I thought we were in control of the game until their first goal, when we should have been awarded a free-kick just before.

“But the referee ended up playing advantage, which we didn’t want because it was on the halfway line, not on the edge of the 18-yard box. We’ve then gone on to lose the ball and it has ended up in the back of our net.

“Their second goal was also a bit unfortunate as their player was put through by a ricochet, but he’s still got in between our three players to score, so it was a frustrating evening. We improved in the second half, but it wasn’t to be and we just didn’t get going from an attacking point of view.”