Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver said his team stood up well to a Carlisle United side who “kept getting bigger with every substitution”.

The Sulphurites manager said his side did well in how they confronted the Blues’ aerial threat in last night’s game.

Josh March’s penalty earned Harrogate a 1-0 victory.

And Weaver said: “It was a really physical game against a huge team, who kept getting bigger with every substitution.

“They kept trying to load the box – they are a direct team with good players in it that can destroy teams – but we stood up to the task extremely well and played some good football when we could get it down and play.

“It was a streetwise performance and it was needed to overcome them.”

Weaver felt his team’s “concentration levels” and defensive discipline were excellent as United tried to apply pressure.

“Their keeper [Paul Farman] has an enormous strike – they were trying to turn us, get the long throw, and basically put as many entries in our box with big bodies as possible.

“They are extremely effective at it. They’re a good team that know what they’re about and the manager [Chris Beech] has done fantastically well, because they’ve got a chance of winning the league.

“Our concentration level was extremely high from start to finish,” he added, speaking to the club’s official outlets. “

“Attacking-wise we had courage in their half to try and be sharp about our play. They showed their class and there was enough on the field to worry a top team in Carlisle.”

Weaver admitted some of his own substitutions were made to combat United’s “size”.

He brought on the tall figure of ex-Blues striker Mark Beck late on, also adding big defender Jake Lawlor.

“We had to go for out all-out size in the end,” he said. “It wasn’t a tactical masterclass – it was, ‘Right, stick another big lad on because they’ve just stuck another 6ft 2-3in lad on’.

“But whatever it takes to bring home the points…”

United’s second-half substitutions saw the introduction of Offrande Zanzala, Gime Toure, Omari Patrick and Jon Mellish.