HARROGATE failed to improve their position towards the wrong end of the National League after a dour goalless draw with Boreham Wood at home.

Boreham Wood's Kabongo Tshimanga failed to hit the target from inside the area in a first half of few chances when the North Yorkshiremen failed to get going.

The visitors also went close to an opener in the 68th minute but Kieran Murtagh's header was well saved by a diving goalkeeper James Belshaw.

Harrogate should have taken the lead two minutes later but Brendan Kiernan blazed over from close range.

Mark Beck headed over with 15 minutes left as the game ended goalless to leave both sided two points above the relegation zone.

Harrogate: Belshaw; Smith, Hall, Emmett, Fallowfield, Smith, Burrell, Jones (Beck 60), Kiernan, Bradley, Muldoon (Diamond 65). Subs (not used): Thomson, Cracknell, Brown.

GATESHEAD continued their resurgence with a third straight home win by defeating Boston United 3-0.

Former Hartlepool man Nicky Deverdics’ first Gateshead goal since returning to the club put the Heed in front just after the break when neither side got going in the opening period.

That got Gateshead going and there was no way back for Boston after two quick goals, three and eight minutes later, from JJ O’Donnell and Dom Tear.

Top scorer O’Donnell headed Deverdics’ cross in from close range to hand the Pilgrims a mountain to climb and Tear made it three with Deverdics laying it off for the Huddersfield loan man to find the far corner.

Gateshead: James; Nicholson, Lees, Nelson, Barrow; Deverdics, Agnew; O’Donnell (Preston 80), Olley, Tear (Forbes 88); Kayode (Blackett 90). Subs (not used) Guthrie, Greenfield, Blackett.