Stanley were denied a first win of the season in the third minute of added time as Sam Folarin rescued a point for Harrogate.

The visitors had led twice through James Daly and Ellis Taylor but entered stoppage time trailing after goals from Tyler Walton, Jimmy Knowles and Kelsey Mooney.

Levi Sutton hit a post early on before the visitors started the scoring in the 16th minute. Stanley failed to clear their lines from a long throw and Daly headed home.

It was all-square after 29 minutes when Connor O’Brien’s cross found Tyler Walton. His header was saved by James Belshaw but Walton pounced to slide the follow-up home.

Harrogate regained the lead four minutes later when Taylor curled home his first goal for the Sulphurites from the edge of the area, but Stanley turned the game around with two goals in three second-half minutes.

Walton’s deep ball into the box was headed home by Knowles on the hour mark and soon after Shaun Whalley’s long-range effort was pushed out by Belshaw but Mooney was there to pounce.

It looked like Stanley would hold on but a cross from Toby Sims was headed home by Folarin to give both sides their first point of the campaign.

“The players are deflated but it was a very good second-half performance and it warranted three points, but they stuck at it and we didn’t deal with the ball into the box,” John Doolan said after the final whistle.

“We have to be better than that but it was a young, different back four. I have picked them up in the dressing room as I am proud of them for the second half.

“I spoke at half-time about the belief and togetherness, and it showed after the break. The first half was scrappy, the final ball into the box was wanting but we had a chat at half-time about doing the basics right, playing the way we want them to play, and they delivered.

“To score the goals we did to go in front showed massive character. Everyone was desperate for Kelsey and Jimmy to score and it will do their confidence the world of good."