Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver was left disappointed by his side's "critical" defensive errors as they fell to a 4-1 home defeat to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday.
Having looked the better side in the opening 20 minutes with some good passing, the Sulphurites conceded two in quick succession and then again on the stroke of half time, ending the game as a contest.
Some shaky defending and individual errors ultimately cost the home side as the league leaders' 21st minute opener came after Kane Wilson glided past left-back Nathan Sheron and cut back for Jack Aitchison, who was unmarked to strike the ball in the net after taking a deflection.
Five minutes later, Josh Falkingham's attempted back pass to Mark Oxley put Matty Stevens clean through on goal, allowing him to round the keeper and square it to Nicky Cadden for the tap in.
Wilson once again caused problems for Harrogate as he got the better of Jack Diamond in the left-back position, skipped past a poorly attempted tackle from Lloyd Kerry and crossed for Jamille Matt who scored from the six-yard box.
In the second half, Kerry scored merely a consolation as Warren Burrell's failed to make a decent connection with the ball, gifting Aitchison possession and allowed him to cross for Stevens to nod it home.
Speaking to the Harrogate Advertiser after the match, Weaver reflected on his team's defensive frailties: "We've just given them goals on four occasions. We've caused our own problems and against good opposition we have been punished for errors. There were some decisions that just weren't right and didn't allow us to be safe enough in key moments.
"It could have been a crazy scoreline tonight but they punished us with the chances they took, while we failed to punish them when we did actually create. There was a lack of seeing the danger in the first half. We didn't go out and meet them."
Forest Green right wing-back Kane Wilson tormented Town all evening, especially inside the opening half. But Weaver felt that his side should have done more to shore things up in that area of the pitch.
"We're fully aware of Kane Wilson’s quality but we didn’t move over to that side of the field as units in the first half, and even in the second half, he still showed his ability.
"Down that side was problematic for us. Jack Diamond is not a full-back, he's not a wing-back but he found himself defending deep in our own territory at times and in a one-versus-one situation, which is unfair on him."
This defeat sees Harrogate fall out of the play-off places down to ninth, but are only a point behind Leyton Orient in eighth. The visitors, meanwhile, go six points clear at the top with a game in hand.
The Verdict
While Weaver did accept that his side's defending was nowhere near League Two standard, the boss did highlight some mitigated factors which are completely understandable.
Tuesday's match was Town's fourth in a fortnight, which Weaver felt was a "game too far" for his depleted squad, which could only name five substitutes on the bench.
Left back Lewis Page's one match suspension left his side with only three recognised defenders, forcing attacking midfielder George Thomson to occupy right back for the first time in his career.
With the games coming constantly, plus the amount of injures and suspensions they've accumulated, it's no surprise that Harrogate struggled against the table toppers. While Weaver will be let down by the defensive display - which is more than justified - Town are still within that promotion picture and one win will fire them back into those playoff places. With another game coming on Saturday against more tough opposition in Northampton, it'll be interesting to see how Weaver and his team will cope.
