Harrogate running out of time to preserve hard-earned Football League status

The league’s lowest scorers continue to punch above their weight in the fourth tier but found Notts County too strong

Walking up Wetherby Road it is hard to believe there is a Football League ground lurking around the corner. Living in the shadows of semi-detached houses and three-storey blocks of flats sits the Exercise Stadium, where watching Harrogate Town this season has been an exasperating experience.

The mix of being the lowest scorers in the league, with a paltry 29 in 40 games, and conceding the most shots, has left them mired in a relegation battle. There have only been three home victories all season but there were reasons for optimism after an upturn in results and performances, prior to the visit of promotion-chasing Notts County.