Carlisle United manager Chris Beech bemoans the size of Harrogate Town's pitch following defeat at Wetherby Road

Carlisle United manager Chris Beech. Picture: Getty Images

The title-chasing visitors were beaten by Josh March's 28th-minute penalty on Tuesday evening, and their manager was initially complimentary about Simon Weaver's team's performance in a post-match interview filmed for the Cumbrians' YouTube channel.

But, he then went on to discuss the playing surface at the EnviroVent Stadium - specifically the width of it.

"Our centre-halves competed against some physical centre-forwards, I thought their midfield got the better of us at times, but then we got on top at times - it was a pretty even arm wrestle, really," 46-year-old Beech said.

Josh March converted a 28th-minute penalty to hand Harrogate Town victory over the visiting Cumbrians at the EnviroVent Stadium. Picture: Matt Kirkham

"This pitch is eight yards tighter than ours. You don't get any time on the ball and Harrogate's statistics - they get the most re-gains in the league, or one of the most - it's because it is so tight, the pitch.

"It doesn't settle, the players are always next to somebody. With a bit more space, we can utilise that space better."

Prior to his gripes about Town's pitch, Beech had congratulated the home team on their victory, though insisted that the three points were gifted to them by a rash moment from captain Nick Anderton, who dived in on March to concede the decisive spot-kick.

"It's not nice to get beat, well done to Harrogate," Beech added.

"It was a tight game, good energy from Harrogate - that's how they play and they did well.

"They got the upper hand with a bit of rashness from Nick. If he doesn't do that, they don't get a penalty, which means it's 0-0 probably at half-time.

"I actually thought that in the period just before the penalty, even though it was a sort of basketball-type game, that when we did get it down, it looked like something was going to come for us - but of course we gave the penalty away and it gives them the ascendancy from that point.

"It's just daft, isn't it? The lad that Nick has gone against is going wide, he's not come inside to score, so see what happens, trust your goalkeeper - Paul [Farman] is a good goalkeeper, he made a good save after that didn't he, so stay on your feet."

Three points for Town lift them up to 12th place in the League Two standings, while Carlisle slip to ninth.