Simon Weaver laments 'galling' error at the back as Harrogate Town lose 'winnable' game at Scunthorpe United

The Sulphurites were guilty of two costly lapses at the back - one bad, one awful - as they suffered a 3-1 defeat on the road at Scunthorpe United, dashing their hopes of recording a fourth win in five League Two outings.

Four days earlier, boss Weaver was able to hail his players for the unwavering concentration levels they displayed in a resolute performance which saw them repel a near-enough relentless aerial bombardment by the Cumbrians on their way to a gritty 1-0 success.

And, while they defended well enough for the most part of their clash with the Iron, they would end up empty-handed on this occasion as a result of twice switching off and gifting their hosts easy finishes.

"It wasn't good enough. Where it counts defensively, we've conceded three goals," Weaver reflected.

"One of them was a spectacular effort right at the end, which you can't fault any of our players for, but the goals before that we had lapses of concentration and it has cost us dearly in a game that we thought was winnable - without being disrespectful to Scunthorpe.

"When we fell behind on the stroke of half-time we felt really aggrieved about that because we could do much better. It was pretty galling stuff. It's frustrating and it is that reminder about concentration.

"We've done brilliantly the other night - you see it a lot in promoted to teams where they work to such a high pitch, but can they repeat it just a few days later? Well, I would suggest that the energy levels, yes, but the mental side - we got found out for concentration and focus in big moments and it has cost us the points on the day."

Town fell behind just four minutes into Saturday's contest when it was all too easy for Scunthorpe striker Ryan Loft to run through a huge gap between Town centre-halves Will Smith and Connor Hall before pulling the ball back across goal.

Waiting at the far post was Devarn Green, completely unmarked, and United's left-winger even had time to take a touch before sending a routine close-range finish past James Belshaw.

For the third time in four matches, Josh March won and converted a penalty to draw Harrogate level on 27 minutes, and despite the visitors being in the ascendancy for the majority of the opening period, they would still go into the interval a goal down.

And Weaver was visibly furious on the sidelines as his team was somehow caught out when Alfie Beestin booted a bouncing ball into the air, deep inside his own half.

With the Sulphurites' defence all at sea, the hopeful punt forward was allowed to bounce in behind and Loft ran away from Hall before slotting past Belshaw.

There was little that anybody in yellow and black could have done about Lewis Spence's stunning 35-yarder which put the hosts 3-1 up on 90 minutes, but defensive lapses and conceding soft goals have been an issue for Town throughout their debut season in the EFL.

And, while they certainly looked much more solid in their midweek win over Carlisle, the clean-sheet they managed in that game was only their second in 16 matches.

Weaver, a former centre-half himself, is all too aware where his players are going wrong and conceded that Harrogate do need to improve at the back.

"We're doing more sessions with the defenders," he added.

"We've conceded two poor goals from just not being switched on. I think that sometimes we are guilty of not picking up in the box when the ball is out wide - like the first goal.

"The second one, is a ball over the top. Yes, we're trying to squeeze up but there has to be a point where, as a defender, you check that their striker isn't level with you, youv'e got to give yourself a bit of space.

"The ball over the top is used so frequently at this level that you've got to be able to make sure that it doesn't hurt you, which it did today.

"I'm very disappointed. They were basic mistakes. We can't have those aberrations defensively."

Town drop two places to 15th in the League Two standings following Saturday's loss.