Pete Wild denied win in first game as Fleetwood boss after late penalty miss

Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw saved a last-minute penalty to secure a 1-1 draw and deny Pete Wild victory in his first game in charge of Fleetwood.

Belshaw denied Phoenix Patterson from 12 yards at the death, after Josh March’s goal had cancelled out James Bolton’s early opener.

Fleetwood made the perfect start to Wild’s tenure through Bolton, who found the net with just a minute on the clock. Patterson’s corner was sent to the back post, where Bolton sneaked in to finish at close range.

Harrogate hit back, however, cancelling out the hosts’ lead after eight minutes. A curling free-kick from Stephen Duke-McKenna was met by the unmarked March and his glancing header went beyond the reach of Cod Army keeper Jay Lynch.

Fleetwood went close through Matty Virtue – his first-time drive forcing Belshaw into a sharp save – and Ronan Coughlan, whose fierce goalbound effort was deflected over.

Harrogate then wasted a glaring opportunity. March slipped in Matty Daly who had found space in the box but he skewed his shot horribly wide with only Lynch to beat.

In the second half, Ryan Graydon had a terrific chance when Patterson’s cross picked him out but he headed way over.

And Duke-McKenna almost scored, but Lynch tipped his free-kick over at full stretch.

Patterson had the chance to score a 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot after he had been sent tumbling in the box, but Belshaw guessed correctly and pulled off a vital save to secure Harrogate’s first point of December.