Harrogate Town display against Leyton Orient 'one of our best', says Simon Weaver

Simon Weaver was left to reflect on what he felt was one of Harrogate Town's best performances since promotion to League Two as the Sulphurites twice came from behind to earn a point against Leyton Orient.
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver. Picture: Matt Kirkham

Having dominated the opening half of Tuesday's League Two clash, the hosts fell behind within 60 seconds of the match restarting when Connor Wilkinson fired home against the run of play.

Dan Jones nodded home George Thomson's free-kick to draw Harrogate level just before the hour-mark, ending his team's six-hour wait for a goal on home soil.

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Just five minutes later, Jones' risky header inside his own box gifted Orient striker Danny Johnson an opportunity to make it 2-1 that he did not pass up.

Jack Muldoon then missed a 73rd-minute penalty, however Josh McPake came to Town's rescue with a richly-deserved equaliser soon afterwards.

"It was our best 90-minute performance for some time," Weaver said.

"If you take out the mishaps for their goals and the missed penalty, it’s one of our best performances since we became a Football League club.

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"Even though the blips were there it was a terrific sign of character and resolve to twice come from behind.

"I thought we really turned up tonight. There was a vibe in the changing room which they took onto the pitch, an extra edge about us and it felt inevitable that we would get back in the game rather than lose it.

"Even when we missed the penalty I honestly never believed it wasn’t going to be our night. The intensity was too much. We tend not to be denied when we perform with that intensity. I felt another goal was inevitable."