HARROGATE Town boss Simon Weaver felt his side 'got sucked into a malaise' after they were beaten 1-0 at Colchester United.

Town, who remain second in League Two, had gone into the U's game on the back of a thumping 6-1 win over Scunthorpe United.

However, they were beaten by the U's, thanks to substitute Sylvester Jasper's 88th-minute winner.

Boss Weaver felt the absence of the PA system at the Community Stadium - which was out of action due to a technical fault - made for a 'dead atmosphere'.

Weaver said: “It was a test that we didn’t pass today.

“It was a test of the mentality after last week’s big win.

“I’d never say our lads have been arrogant at all but the tempo of the game was slower and it was almost like we were picking and choosing our time to win the game.

“You can end up losing games like that.

“It was a dead atmosphere with no music in the stadium, very quiet and we got sucked into that malaise.

“We allowed ourselves to do that – we didn’t dominate proceedings and we allowed them to grow in stature.

“It was loose, it wasn’t disciplined with that defensive side on that occasion and we didn’t have enough oomph in our game.

"They've got great support here but they united them, probably after two thirds into the game when there was a bit of a quicker tempo and their crowd responded.

"Other than that, it was really quiet before that and we felt we were growing and getting it out to Jack Diamond and causing a few problems.

Gazette:

“We lacked the usual energy that’s created a bit of a reputation for ourselves at this level and been our identity.

“It’s not part of us, pontificating over everything.

"We need to get the ball down and play, excite, get balls into the box, create opportunities and we had to change the system in order to do that.

"All in all, there wasn't enough of us out there and maybe that was because of the 6-1 (against Scunthorpe) and we've given the lads a couple of days off.

"That was to restore the energy to go again and we haven't gone again today."

Substitute Lloyd Kerry had come close to breaking the deadlock for Harrogate in the second half when his close-range shot crashed against the underside of the crossbar.

Weaver added: "We looked in the ascendency but it's happened now, we've lost the game and we have to lick our wounds and prepare for Tuesday (against Tranmere)."