Town fell to their second successive defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at home to Notts County after being reduced to ten minute late in the first half.
County, making their first ever visit to The CNG Stadium, handed Regan Booty an immediate debut, with Kristian Dennis and Sam Osborne also given their first starts of the season as manager Neil Ardley looked to shake things up following a winless start to the campaign.And it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides, with one-time Nottingham Forest and Derby striker Nathan Tyson blazing over from inside the box, before Town ‘keeper James Belshaw was forced to save smartly in quick succession from both Osborne and Enzio Boldewijn.
Having forced their way back into the game, Town should have opened the scoring when Jack Muldoon crossed for Brendan Kiernan but his close range shot was steered wide by the foot of County ‘keeper Sam Slocombe.
Town were then presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 40th minute after Mark Beck was bundled over in the box. Their recent penalty woes continued though as Joe Leesley blasted his spot kick wide.
They were then made to pay on the stroke of half-time as Dennis converted a penalty after Will Smith was harshly adjudged to have handled on the line, a decision that also saw the defender red carded.
Manager Simon Weaver opted to make a change at the break, introducing Jack Emmett in place of Scott Brown and changing to a 3-4-2 formation after being reduced to ten men.
And despite the mis-match in numbers Town were the brighter and more spirited side early in the second half. Muldoon twice went close, seeing his goalbound effort cleared off the line after 56 minutes and Beck headed just over from Leesley's corner.
With County holding firm at the back, Simon Weaver went on the front foot, bringing on both Sam Jones and Jon Stead from the bench in an attempt to take something from the game.
Despite their best efforts and backing from a bumper home crowd, Town couldn't carve out the opportunity they needed and County sealed the points when Boldewijn headed home at the far post after 88 minutes for their first win of the season.
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, G.Smith, Falkingham, Burrell, Beck (Jones 69), Leesley, Kiernan (Stead 73), Muldoon, Hall, Brown (Emmett 45), W.Smith.
Subs not used: Cracknell, Fallowfield.
Booked: Burrell.
Sent off: W.Smith.
Notts County: Slocombe, Rose (c), Turner, Dennis (Dunn 79), Tyson (Thomas 66), Boldewijn, Rawlinson, Booty, Kelly-Evans, Bakayogo, Osborne (Graham 90).
Subs not used: Fitzsimmons, Campbell.
Goals: Dennis 45+, Boldewijn 88.
Booked: Kelly-Evans.
Referee: D.Richardson.
Attendance: 1,863.