Dean Cornelius earns Harrogate last-gasp win over Chesterfield

Posted Sunday, November 17, 2024 by PA

Dean Cornelius’ first goal of the season earned Harrogate a 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Chesterfield.

The midfielder ended a run of three straight league defeats for the hosts when he struck in the first minute of added time after Spireites substitute James Berry had cancelled out Toby Sims’ second-half opener.

Stephen Duke-McKenna, a late addition to the first XI when Matty Daly was injured during the warm-up, came closest to opening the scoring during an evenly-contested first half.

Harrogate’s Guyana international thudded an angled effort against the crossbar after being played through the right channel by Jack Muldoon.

Duke-McKenna hit the frame of the goal again in the 57th minute, but this time his effort led to the opening goal.

His free kick, harshly awarded against Armando Dobra, rattled the inside of Ryan Boot’s left-hand upright and the ball fell to Sims, who drove a shot firmly into the net from 12 yards.

The visitors drew level following a quadruple substitution by boss Paul Cook, with the very next move seeing one of those replacements, Berry, cut inside from the left and curl a shot into James Belshaw’s top far corner.

Covering defender Zico Asare was only able to help the ball into the net with his attempted headed clearance on the line.

Corelius had the final say, however, blasting in from 15 yards after Boot had saved from Josh March following a right-wing burst by Muldoon.