Harrogate ease relegation worries at the expense of fellow strugglers Tranmere

Harrogate increased Tranmere’s relegation worries and eased their own with a  3-2 win in a thrilling Sky Bet League Two encounter at Wetherby Road.

Sulphurites goalkeeper James Belshaw made two big saves to deny Omari Patrick early on before forward Tom Cursons headed Ellis Taylor’s cross wide from just seven yards out.

The hosts did however break the deadlock on 33 minutes, Taylor sweeping home Josh March’s teasing right-wing cross inside the six-yard box.

Harrogate begun the second period brightly and doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Cursons nodded in Taylor’s hanging delivery at the far post.

Tranmere responded within three minutes, Regan Hendry curling home a delightful finish after a right-wing free-kick was taken short to him.

Rovers pushed hard for an equaliser but Ben Fox restored Town’s two-goal cushion in the 75th minute with a stunning 25-yard half-volley that fizzed into the top corner.

Again, the visitors replied within three minutes, Patrick cutting in from the left and bending a beautiful finish beyond Belshaw’s dive to reduce the deficit to one goal again.

The visitors could have grabbed a point at the end, only for Josh Hawkes to slide a 90th-minute penalty past the post.