Harrogate Town squandered a two-goal lead with just seven minutes left as they were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw at Ilkeston.

Harrogate were 2-0 up in 26 minutes through Roy Stamer and Lee Ellington.

And Ellington looked to have made it safe when he hit his second of the afternoon on 79 minutes.

"It's two points lost. We played some good stuff and with three goals you expect to come away with three points," boss Simon Weaver told BBC Radio York.

"But the keeper didn't carry out instructions. And the back line proved we're full of nice lads on the coach but on the pitch they're a soft touch.

"Maybe before the game it would have been a good point away from home. But I think we've got a better squad of players than Ilkeston now."

It's the first time I've really lost my temper in there Harrogate boss Simon Weaver

Despite the point, Harrogate's plight is worse because relegation rivals Gloucester and Redditch both won.

Bottom club Harrogate are 12 points adrift of safety with only eight games to escape. But it is still unclear whether one or two teams will go down from Blue Square North.

"I want to get out of this trouble," added Weaver. "I think we've got the quality. I just question people's characters today.

"They either respond next week or they get another rocket.

"I want to create something special here, but you've got to win wars as well and we weren't man enough to do that.

"I'm looking to keep players for next year but they have to be of the right kind of calibre.

"We need strength and authority at the back. It's the first time I've really lost my temper in there."

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