Simon Weaver delighted with Harrogate’s ruthless streak against Grimsby

Harrogate showed a level of ruthlessness that boss Simon Weaver admitted they had lacked recently to beat Grimsby 3-1 and breathe life into their Sky Bet League Two survival bid.

Tobias Brenan and Jack Evans both scored in the space of six first-half minutes to give the Sulphurites an unexpected two-goal lead, with former Grimsby man Bryn Morris sealing the points much later after the hosts had pulled one back.

Harrogate remain bottom of the fourth tier but are now just a point off safety, with their manager revelling in his team’s top-quality finishing.

“I’m delighted with the win and I think the lads deserved it,” said a jubilant Weaver.

“It was three really good finishes for the three goals.

“We showed quality in the final third, which has been the big thing we’ve missed in the last few weeks.

“The midfielders all scored superb individual goals, but it was the attritional stuff in between that led to it, which was equally important.

“Winning headers, landing on second balls and being organised were all vital things for us to take on a strong Grimsby side, who have a great supporter base behind them at home.

“We had to physically stand up to the barrage they put on us, especially in the first 10 to 15 minutes before we scored.

“To display that quality in the final third when it did settle down was really pleasing.

“[The penalty save] was a big moment for us and it could’ve been for them had they scored as we would’ve needed to pick them up at half-time having been two up, but it was a great save.”

Having beaten then-bottom side Barrow 5-0 at home a fortnight ago, the Mariners were hoping for a repeat afternoon against the latest side to assume that spot, but instead their play-off push took a surprising hit.

“We played well enough to win,” said Grimsby boss David Artell.

“We were by far the better team in the first 20 minutes, and then they scored twice with two really good finishes in quick succession.

“That didn’t deter us because we were playing well before that and just needed to carry on.

“We get one goal back and then a penalty, so we could’ve easily gone in at half-time back level, which would’ve been the least we deserved.

“In the second half, we started brightly again, but it petered out as it went on, and then the third goal killed it.

“We changed shape before that to get more people up front, but it ended up hurting us more than it helped because we looked more disjointed.

“In the end, their ruthlessness and our lack of it decided the game.”