Northwich Victoria 2 Harrogate Railway Athletic 2

NORTHWICH Victoria are favourites to earn a home tie in the promotion play-off semi finals despite only drawing with Harrogate at the weekend.

Third-placed Vics need to match Bamber Bridge’s result in the final game of the season on Saturday, when Jim Gannon’s side visit Brighouse, to ensure they will host Brig at Flixton next Tuesday.

Malachi Farquharson had headed Harrogate in front after the break before Abou Sanogo and Josh Amis scored twice in seven minutes to tip the balance their team’s way.

However Farquharson levelled from close range in added time.

Amis collected a pass from Stuart Cook on 19 minutes on the edge of the box, but could only shoot straight at goalkeeper Tom Goodwin.

Iain Howard then sent a low drive wide of a post before Dan Thirkell’s headed effort for the visitors was chalked off for a push inside the six-yard box.

It took Harrogate 10 minutes after the interval to break the deadlock when Farquharson flicked in a header from a long throw.

Vics applied sustained pressure from that moment on, and it paid off with 20 minutes left when substitute Sanogo latched onto Amis’ nod down before smashing home.

And Gannon’s side were in front when Michael Clarke’s lofted ball into the box was met with power by Amis who headed past Goodwin from close range.

A frenzied final quarter of an hour saw the sides sharing possession before the visitors made safe a share of the spoils in stoppage time when Farquharson steered in under pressure from Clarke following a raid down the right by Adam Baker.

While Vics are at Brighouse on Saturday, Bamber Bridge are scheduled to host Farsley.

Vics Deasy (GK), Smalley, Ali, Clarke, Henry, Meadowcroft, Cook, Roddy, Amis, Howard, Grayson (Sanogo 62) Subs not used: Smith, Summerskill, Mendes, Krou

Attendance: 102