Port Vale’s promotion hopes suffered another blow as they were held to a goalless draw against Harrogate at Vale Park.

Darren Moore’s side were left four points off the promotion pace after a second successive draw while Simon Weaver’s battlers saw their cushion over the relegation zone slashed to eight points.

Swiss striker Lorent Tolaj came close for the hosts early on as his header hit the bar.

Harrogate stopper James Belshaw twice produced good saves to keep out Rekeem Harper before the break.

Belshaw ensured the game was level at interval as he tipped Tolaj’s strike past the post in stoppage time.

Vale saw huge shouts for a penalty waved away when Ronan Curtis’ bending strike appeared to hit the arm of Warren Burrell.

The visitors threatened after the break as Ben Amos beat away Tom Hill’s long-range effort before tipping Ellis Taylor’s powerful shot over.

Crystal Palace loanee Jemiah Umolu, who came off the bench, almost nicked it late on when he shot wide after Nathan Smith nodded the ball into his path.