An Ed Francis goal deep into stoppage time gained Harrogate Town a well deserved draw after a battling performance at bogey club, Salford City.
Simon Weaver had to make one change to his starting line up, with Jake McPake replacing the suspended Warren Burrell, while Francis switched to left back.
After a couple of early Town raids, the Ammies began to take control and opened the scoring on twenty-one minutes.
Salford’s loanee from Leeds United, Robbie Gotts, turned and shot from the edge of the area to beat James Belshaw.
Town were holding their own in a close contest and a Francis strike whistled just wide of the upright.
However, on thirty-eight minutes,an under hit back pass from Di’Shon Bernard opened the door for Jack Muldoon, who raced through and rounded keeper, Vaclav Hladky,to record his eleventh goal for Town.
Harrogate, with Jake McPake prominent,carried the fight to the Ammies and Aaron Martin headed narrowly over the bar after Connor Hall’s shot was parried to him.
Town kept up the pressure after the break, and Brendan Kiernan, who was operating on the right, smashed a vicious volley against the Salford crossbar.
This prompted a strong counter from Salford and Belshaw had to make a fine one handed save to keep out Hunter’s goal bound shot.
Unluckily,Town conceded again on 70 minutes,when Belshaw blocked Richie Towell’s initial strike,but the ball rebounded to Brandon Thomas-Asante who netted from close range.
Simon Weaver brought on Josh March and debutante Simon Power to try to retrieve the situation and a curler from McPake sailed just the wrong side of the post.
It looked as though the Salford hoodoo was about to continue,but deep into added time a George Thomson corner was headed down and Francis poked in from close range to gain a point and send the Town party happily home from the Peninsular Stadium.
Town,
Belshaw,Williams,Francis,Lawlor,Hall,Thomson,Falkingham,McPake,Kiernan(Power 74),Martin,Muldoon(March 74).
Unused subs,Minter,Lokko,Hondermarck,Kirby.
Scorers,Muldoon 38,Francis 90+3
Salford City,
Hladky,James(Clarke 56),Touray,Lowe,Hunter(Thomas-Asante 56),Bernard,Burgess(Coutts 56),Turnbull,Threlkeld(Towell 56),Gotts,Henderson.
Unused subs,Evans,Eastham,Andrade.
Scorers,Gotts 21,Thomas-Asante 70
Booked,Jams,Lowe,Touray.
Referee,Mark Edwards,
By John Harrison.
