Weaver helped Ilkeston win promotion to Blue Square North

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver was encouraged by his side's all-round performance despite losing 1-0 at home to Ilkeston in Blue Square North.

Chas O'Loughlin's 34th minute goal kept Town bottom of the table, but Harrogate striker Keiran Leabon was man-of-the-match as they rallied after the break.

Weaver told BBC Radio York: "It wasn't our day.

"Leabon was a constant threat, I thought we battered them in the second half and we deserved at least a point."

Simon Harrison came closest to equalising for Town with a shot that was tipped over the bar.

"He's a fine player who's getting better and better," Weaver said. "He played right of two in the centre of midfield and that's the third position he's played for us.

"We're proving to be a far better team than even a month ago.

"We played with a bit more width. We tried to get it on the floor and pass it around.

"We had superior talent on the pitch, all that was missing was the finishing product. We've got to look at that in the final third, but, other than that, it was a fine football performance in the second half."

Weaver has tried more than 40 players so far this season but feels his search is almost at an end.

"It's not about revamping the squad now. I'm very, very happy with the characters I've got and I can trust them," he said.

"I think they're all good-quality players and I don't think they deserve to be bottom of the table."

Town's trip to Blyth, originally scheduled for Tuesday, 1 December, has been moved to 15 December.

Their next game is at Eastwood on Saturday.

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