Matthew Dennis earns Notts County late draw against depleted Harrogate

Matthew Dennis’ stoppage-time penalty helped Notts County salvage a 1-1 draw against a depleted Harrogate at Meadow Lane and extend their unbeaten League Two run to six matches.

Dennis stroked the penalty past Harrogate keeper James Belshaw in the third minute of added time to cancel out Tom Cursons’ first-half strike.

Despite five straight league defeats and a decimated squad showing just three substitutes, Harrogate frustrated County before the break, with Belshaw blocking Alassana Jatta’s far-post shot.

Tyrese Hall should have put the Magpies ahead when Nick Tsaroulla’s centre found him unmarked 10 yards out, but his shot was palmed away by Belshaw.

The hosts paid the price after 39 minutes as Town went ahead, the ball ricocheting through to Cursons whose close-range shot deflected in off Lucas Ness.

And the visitors almost doubled their lead moments later when Ellis Taylor’s low ball across the six-yard box just evaded Cursons’ slide.

County heaped on the pressure after the break as Belshaw’s fine diving stop kept out Jatta’s stinging 20-yard drive, while Ness headed over from Matt Palmer’s corner.

Jatta steered a header just past the far post as Harrogate looked set to hold out.

But second-half substitute Shawn McCoulsky was judged to have brought down William Jarvis and Dennis slotted home his seventh goal of the season.