In-form Harrogate climbed to third in the National League table after beating nine-man Maidenhead 1-0 to record a fourth straight win.

Veteran Jon Stead was denied from close range in the 34th minute after the ball had rattled around the Maidenhead box and, just before half-time, Jack Muldoon was blocked when well-placed to score.

James Belshaw made a great diving save to keep Maidenhead out when play resumed and it was not long before Magpies schemer Ryan Upward attempted a spectacular drive from distance, instead firing over.

Connor Hall scored Harrogate's winner on the hour mark, the right-back firing home from an Alex Bradley corner, and Maidenhead's challenge fell apart when Rene Steer and Josh Kelly were sent off late on.

Harrogate: Belshaw; Hall, Smith (Smith 46), Bradley, Burrell, Falkingham, Emmett (Kiernan 74), Kerry, Muldoon, Stead (Beck 62), Diamond. Subs (not used): Thomson, Cracknell.

"THERE was a lot to like" about York City's 2-0 win at Southport believes manager Steve Watson.

Watson was particularly happy with the control and composure York had over the game in patient build-up play, which yielded a variety of chances.

He has implored his players to show much the same for next Saturday's National League North match with AFC Telford United at Bootham Crescent.

Jordan Burrow slotted home a sweet second after the restart, and was credited with the first goal - but Watson says he is unable to cast any light on who it belongs to.

"You have to be pleased don't you?" he told the York Press. "There was a lot to like about today's performance.

"We got the clean sheet, which we always try to start with. When you're playing a team that loads a lot of balls into the box, your job as a defender is to guard the goal and defend the box, and we got bodies on the line and people in the right positions. Apart from that, everything was about us.

"We played with a lot of patience at times, from side to side and back across and because of that, we carved them open numerous times, probably more so than a good few weeks.

"Energy levels looked excellent, the midfield rotated really well and Jordan's retention was excellent. Both wing-backs did everything we asked of them, they attacked well and defended well.”

York City: Jameson, Griffiths, Tait, McNulty, Newton, Ferguson, McLaughlin, Moke, Green, Kempster (Langstaff 77), Burrow. Subs (not used): Whitley, King, Bond, Durrell.

Elliot Forbes and Dom Tear struck the goals to ensure Gateshead celebrated a first win of 2020 by overcoming Hereford 2-0 at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Gateshead went ahead when Forbes headed in his first for the club on half an hour during a tight first half.

The hosts were better after the break but struggled to increase the lead but then with two minutes remaining Tear fired home. Greg Olley’s cross to Preston was blocked out by Ben Pollock, but the ball fell perfectly to Tear who fired into the roof of the net.

Preston had the chance to add a third late on, but his shot from a tight angle was well saved by Henry.

Gateshead: James; Forbes, Williamson, Cooper; Nicholson, Agnew, Olley, Deverdics, Barrow; Kayode (Tear 71), Preston. Subs (not used): Guthrie, Cranston, Oliver, Nelson.