By Match report: Late Harrogate winner condemns Town to defeat
Grimsby Town were denied a point following a late Harrogate Town goal in League Two this afternoon.
Max Crocombe’s injury-time own goal secured the three points for the hosts after Otis Khan and Harry Clifton had scored for the Mariners.
Paul Hurst decided to name an unchanged side from the team that beat Tranmere Rovers last week, with midfielder Sean Scannell making his long-awaited return to the bench.
The game got off to a relatively slow start, as neither side managed to create any opportunities in front of goal in the opening exchanges.
But the hosts made sure that wasn’t the case for much longer when Luke Armstrong tapped the ball into the net following Sam Folarin’s pullback.
Town almost levelled things up midway through the first half, but Khan’s curling effort went just wide of the post.
He wasn’t to be denied for much longer, though, after Michee Efete’s ball in found the winger at the back post and he managed to draw his side level just before the half-hour mark.
With the Mariners really starting to turn the screw, John McAtee saw an effort go wide of the post a couple of minutes after the equaliser.
The forward was then put through on goal by Gavan Holohan, but Peter Jameson produced a fine save to deny him.
It was once again McAtee causing problems for the Harrogate backline, as he dropped his shoulder and unleashed an effort that was well kept out by the keeper.
The sides went in level at half-time after Town recovered well from the early setback and came on strong towards the end of the half.
The Mariners picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and took the lead through Clifton, who latched onto the ball after McAtee had rounded the keeper and he slotted the ball into the net.
The hosts almost grabbed an equaliser shortly after that, but Folarin headed just wide from a well-placed cross into the box.
Armstrong then went close to notching his second of the afternoon just before the hour-mark after he took a clever touch, turned and struck an effort wide of the goal.
Danny Amos then tested Jameson, before Clifton and Khan went close to extending Town’s advantage from follow-up efforts.
With just under 15 minutes left to play, the dangerous Armstrong was played in down the channel and he beat Crocombe to claim his second of the afternoon and put his side on level terms.
As the Mariners pushed to try and regain the lead, McAtee sent an effort over the bar with three minutes left on the clock.
Then, at the start of injury time, Harrogate grabbed a late winner when Kayne Ramsey’s strike struck Crocombe on the back and bounced into the net.
With Town trying to salvage a point from the game, Amos saw an excellent effort at goal well-saved by the keeper deep into added time and the home side managed to hold on to claim the victory.
