Simon Weaver was left to reflect on a “brilliant night” for his Harrogate side after they clung on for a crucial 3-2 victory over fellow Sky Bet League Two strugglers Tranmere.
However, things could have ended differently had Josh Hawkes converted a stoppage-time penalty for the visitors, who refused to give up despite twice finding themselves two goals down.
Predatory close-range finishes from Ellis Taylor and Tom Cursons put the Sulphurites 2-0 up at Wetherby Road by the 58th minute, before Regan Hendry got Tranmere back in the game just three minutes later.
Ben Fox’s stunning 25-yard half-volley restored the home side’s two-goal cushion on 75 minutes, however Rovers again responded almost immediately through Omari Patrick.
And the visitors would have snatched a share of the spoils had Hawkes not missed that late spot-kick.
Weaver, however, was just thrilled to see his team get their rewards for a much-improved attacking display, one which ensured they moved nine points clear of the relegation zone.
“To sum it up, from our perspective it was a brilliant night,” he said.
“I thought that we were exciting to watch. We got the ball forward pretty quickly and got balls into the box and attacked between the posts. We got our goals by doing that.
“We could do that because we had a good, solid platform behind that again, with the two central midfielders instrumental in winning first and second balls and doing all the ugly stuff superbly well to allow us to dominate spells in the game.
“That has been one improvement in the team, but where we have really needed to improve was scoring more goals and we have scored three well-executed goals tonight, including a worldie from Ben Fox.
“So, we are all going to go home happy as a result of that.”
Striker Cursons, signed during the January transfer window following a goal-laden spell with seventh-tier Ilkeston, marked his first home start for Harrogate with his maiden goal as a professional player.
Weaver said: “I am absolutely delighted for TC. He has had to be patient but last week in training I felt that there was a bit of a breakthrough.
“He looked absolutely deadly, he was more aggressive and you could see that tonight.
“He was physically strong, he ran the channels, he upset Tranmere’s back-line and popped up in really good areas, so he has a lot of the ingredients to do well.
“It was great for him to get that goal in front of the Kop. It was a brilliant finish.”
Victory lifts Harrogate one place to 20th in the League Two standings, while Tranmere remain 22nd, where they not sit just four points clear of the drop zone.
