Harrogate’s play-off hopes over after losing to MK Dons in eight-goal thriller

Posted Sunday, April 21, 2024 by PA

MK Dons extinguished Harrogate’s League Two play-off hopes with an enthralling 5-3 triumph at the EnviroVent Stadium.

The visitors, who went into the game with a top-seven spot already guaranteed, did not take their foot off the gas as goals from Alex Gilbey, Max Dean, Stephen Wearne, Emre Tezgel and Ellis Harrison secured maximum points.

In a thrilling end-to-end encounter, George Thomson (2) and Abraham Odoh netted for the hosts, who also hit the frame of the goal five times.

Harrogate forged ahead in the 33rd minute when Odoh converted the rebound after Matty Daly’s effort hit a post but MK Dons turned the tables with two goals in three minutes.

First, Gilbey levelled after receiving a return pass from Dean, who then grabbed his sixth goal in five games from close range.

Thomson made it 2-2 in first-half stoppage time with a superb 25-yard free-kick and Harrogate were back in front five minutes after the break when Thomson got on the end of Odoh’s left-wing cross from six yards for his 18th goal of the season.

MK Dons were back level two minutes later when a long ball forward by Michael Kelly opened up the home defence far too easily and Wearne ran through to beat an exposed James Belshaw.

The Sulphurites went on to throw the kitchen sink at the visitors in their search for a winner with Daly hitting uprights on two more occasions and Thomson thudding an effort against the bar.

But Tezgel made it 4-3 in the 80th minute, collecting Dan Kemp’s pull-back from the right byline before shifting the ball on to his left foot and beating Belshaw from six yards.

Two minutes later, Harrison then added a fifth, firing in from eight yards after the home side had failed to clear their lines, and there was still time for Thomson to strike another upright.