Town face a long trip to the south coast after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hastings United.
Almost 3000 fans saw the two sides battle out a dour draw, in front of the TV cameras at the CNG Stadium in Harrogate.
Town dominated the first twenty minutes as Hastings were pegged back in their own half.
Chib Chilaka soon forced Matt Whitehead to concede a corner, which Matt Armstrong-Ford punched clear.
Tom Platt then just failed to connect with Dwayne Samuels’ teasing cross,after he had been sent down the right by Adam Bolder.
A collision between Paul Beesley and Armstrong-Ford, left the keeper needing a lengthy spell of treatment and unluckily earned Beesley a yellow card.
A superb tackle and through ball by Dave Merris sent Beesley clear,but his extra touch enabled Armstrong-Ford to block.
As Town’s initial effort waned,Hastings began to pose a threat,and Alan White made an excellent interception to end a fine run by Bradley Goldberg, with Merris completing the clearance.
The goal the Town faithful craved arrived on 41 minutes.
A Merris corner was returned across the goal by White’s lob and Tom Platt headed in from close range.
Merris then almost made it two, when a trademark drive whistled just wide.
The visitors were the first to settle after half time and Goldberg shot just over the bar.United kept up the pressure and their efforts were rewarded on the hour, when Whitehead found Goldberg and he tormented the Town defence before releasing a shot, which hit the post and Jamie Crellin was on hand to sweep in the rebound.
Town sought an immediate reply with Platt breaking down the middle,before slipping the ball to Beesley,whose powerful drive was fumbled by the keeper,but Chilaka’s follow up was blocked.
Town threw on all three subs as they went for the win.
However, it was Hastings sub Danny Ellis whose sidefoot across the goal played in Zac Atwood,who with the goal at his mercy, shot weakly at Craig MacGillivray.
Town pushed forward in search of a late winner,with Shane Killock heading over and White blazing well wide.
With a trip to Hastings beckoning,Dan Clayton centred from the left,but Chilaka’s header found the inside of the post and was scrambled clear.
That was Town’s last chance,and they will need to do it all again if they are to proceed into the next round.
Town 1 MacGillivray, 2 Samuels,3 Merris,4 Bolder, 5 White (c) 6 Killock, 7 Platt, 8 Dean (Clayton 78), 9 Chilaka, 10 Beesley (Allan78), 11 Forrest ( Elam 68).
Unused subs 12 Bloomer, 15 Nowakowski 18 Da Veiga, 19 Bolland.
Bookings Dean, Beesley. Scorer Platt 41.
Harrogate Town 1 Hastings United 1 Attendance 2926
