Colchester United 2 Harrogate Town 1: Simon Weaver left in state of disbelief as Sulphurites fail to take their chances

"I don't know how we've lost that game" was Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver's immediate reaction to Saturday afternoon's League Two defeat at Colchester United.
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Pictures: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Pictures: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

The Sulphurites created enough chances during the first period to have been out of sight by the interval but, having failed to convert any of them, were then hit by a quick-fire double-salvo early in the second half.

Substitute Jon Stead pulled one back with a header from a corner shortly after the hour-mark, though that was as good as it got for Town, who began the weekend within touching distance of top spot, but drop two places to sixth as a result of just their second league loss since promotion.

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"It's really frustrating because I thought we were the dominant team for the vast majority of the game," Weaver reflected.

Jon Stead climbs highest to nod home what proved to be a mere consolation goal.Jon Stead climbs highest to nod home what proved to be a mere consolation goal.
Jon Stead climbs highest to nod home what proved to be a mere consolation goal.

"Five minutes of madness after half-time, where a deflected goal and a sloppy second goal when we were too stretched when we needn't be, have cost us.

"We should have been going in at half-time probably 4-0 up and still we had a lot of possession, a lot of chances, but we just weren't cut-throat enough by any stretch.

"I'm very pleased between the boxes, when we were on the ball we were carving them open and I can't fault the players' energy at all, and their creativity, but a big part of the game is putting the chances away. You've got to put teams to bed.

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"The last few wins have been by one goal, and we deserve to have had wins by more convincing scorelines. Today, I don't know how we've lost that game."

Colchester United: Gerken; Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Bramall; Chilvers (Sowunmi 71), Pell; Harriott, Stevens, Poku (Senior 76); Brown (Norris 71). Unused substitutes: Scarlett, Gambin, George, Bohui.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw; Fallowfield, Smith, Hall, Burrell (Jones 82); Thomson, Falkingham, Kerry, Miller (Kiernan 57); Muldoon, Martin (Stead 37). Unused substitutes: Cracknell, Kirby, Walker.

Referee: W Finnie (Bedfordshire).