Jordan Thewlis' 81st minute goal saw Town collect all three points at Chorley and move to within two points of league leaders Salford.
After a fiercely contested affair, Town's right winger provided the breakthrough after beating his marker on the wing and floating over the head of the impressive Chorley goalkeeper into the far corner.Joe Leesley had the chance to make it two in the closing stages after being brought down from behind inside the area after a mazy run only to see his spot kick saved by Matt Unwin, though Thewlis' goal was enough to send Town home with all three points.
Simon Weaver made two enforced changes to his back four with Jack Vann and Toby Lees replacing the suspended Terry Kennedy and Warren Burrell.
Chorley set about testing James Belshaw early in the game, but Town's stopper kept out both Nick Haughton's deflected free kick and Will Beesley's left footed effort inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Belshaw remained in the thick of the action early on with his most impressive save denying Marcus Carver at the near post, though the stopper had Lees to thank moments later for an excellent last ditch sliding tackle that denied Carver the chance to shoot when one on one.
Mid way through the first half Town almost profited from a comical own goal as Beesley's pass back looked to be heading over the line, only for Urwin to come to the rescue at the last second.
Town created their best opportunity of the half six minutes before the break as Thewlis' cross found Mark Beck at the back post, though the striker's header was caught by Urwin.
Weaver's side thought they had taken the lead nine minutes after the restart when Thewlis glanced Joe Leesley's free kick into the back of the net, only to be adjudged offside by the linesman.
The second half saw Town's goal under much less pressure, while Thewlis almost found the net at the other end as his effort heading towards the near top corner was palmed behind by Urwin, who also denied Louie Swain who Leesley's corner had fallen to.
With only nine minutes left to play Thewlis beat his marker on the right wing before floating the ball over the head of Urwin and in at the back post.
Leesley had the chance to make it two in the closing stages after being brought down from behind inside the area after a mazy run, but saw his spot kick saved by Unwin.
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Vann, Swain, Falkingham, Lees, Parker, Thewlis, Emmett, Beck, Agnew, Leesley
Subs not used: Day, Cracknell, Kerry, Thomson, Knowles
Goals: Thewlis 81
Booked: Vann, Swain
Chorley: Urwin, Challoner, Beesley, Teague, Cottrell (Mooney 87), Jordan, Haughton, O'Keefe, Carver (Whitham 68), Walker, Hughes (Metz 43)
Subs not used: Anson, Roscoe
Booked: O'Keefe, Challanor
Referee: R Welch
Attendance: 1,257