Harrogate Town's green shoots as Simon Weaver says his team deserved three points, not one

The Sulphurites went to promotion-chasing Notts County on the back of six straight defeats against senior opposition and with a squad so decimated by injury and international call-ups that they were only able to name three of the permitted seven substitutes, one of them goalkeeper Mark Oxley.

But they took the lead through Tom Cursons' first League Two goal of the season and defended it heroically until Matthew Dennis scored a 93rd-minute penalty for a 1-1 draw.

With contact initiating by Shawn McCoulsky outside the area, manager Weaver felt referee Scott Oldham had succumbed to crowd pressure in awarding the spot kick.

"Today to a man they performed well, dug in and I thought the collective effort warranted three points, to be honest," said Weaver.

"But we were up against it in the second half. Momentum was gaining with decisions going against us and you felt that.

"I was trying to warn the fourth official please tell him to stay strong and it wasn't to be in that way.

"I was disappointed that the penalty was awarded because it felt that he would eventually (give one) with the noise levels and be affected and he did.

"It's a great place to come and play, a good atmosphere but it's not San Siro is it?

"They (County's bench) were saying just put the ball in the box but I wasn't worried about that because we had Warren Burrell, Ziko Asore and Anthony O'Connor epitomising the efforts.

"it went beyond tactics, we wanted it."

Weaver's over-riding feeling was one of pride, despite his frustration at the result.

"In situations like this you either rise or you fall and you buckle and it's difficult because you want to be able to say these days well we've got to stand firm as men and you've got to make your kids proud and your families proud," he said.

"You've got to stand up to it and not wilt and be a strong man out there handle atmospheres handle decisions and come out the other side of it.

"There's green shoots of recovery in the squad – not on the injury front but in terms of that.

"It's building blocks of confidence – you stop the run and go from there.

"We had a meal at a hotel there was a bit of raw chicken left to one side because the food unfortunately wasn't great and the function room was a smallish room and even then there's a spare table because of lack of players that are fit at the minute but I said eleven's enough for us if you you play to the true character of what we've always been about.

"We've we've had a good history against Notts County and we wanted to deliver on that one in, all in kind of approach that we've had for all these years

"I couldn't be more proud of the efforts of the players. They're a bit flat because it was so close to three points however what they've done today is make us proud at the club and the families will be watching on whether they're in the ground or at home."