Poor communication almost cost Harrogate Railway the game against Selby Town until Lee Ryan fired in an injury-time equaliser.

Two goals in the dying minutes saw the Northern Counties East League premier division top-of-the-table thriller end 2-2, visitors Selby coming within seconds of a win.

With three minutes of regulation time left, Adam Wash kept the ball in play with a header after Rail defenders had twice ignored keeper Lee Ashforth's shouts, and Jason Harris lashed in a sweet right-footed volley on the turn to put the Robins 2-1 up.

But a Harrogate team hungry to maintain their six-game undefeated streak responded with Ryan's scissor-kick leveller two minutes into stoppage time.

Selby had bared their teeth in an early flurry with Chris Kamara going close from a free kick and a Joe Connor long ball forward being headed wide. But Harrogate responded with 35 minutes of pressure and a string of chances, which Robins goalkeeper Adam Mitchell repelled with the first flashes of an inspired performance.

It was Selby, though, who broke the deadlock when Kamara unleashed a wicked low curling shot to give his side a 1-0 half-time lead.

A few dressing room fireworks at the interval exploded into an equaliser five minutes after the restart for Damien Henderson, who followed up a goal-line clearance.

The on-fire Mitchell continued to deny both Lee and Scott Ryan in their bid to take the lead while at the other end of the pitch, Wash was guilty of firing over the bar before the stalemate was broken and then reinstated with the two late goals.

Rail boss Martin Haresign said: "Their keeper had a great game and you could see why they are third in the table. I was a bit disappointed with their second goal because the keeper called for it but at least we've kept our run going."

Selby Town assistant manager Gary Cygan said: "I think overall we can pleased with the point even though it was disappointing to lose two points in that way right at the death."

Selby travel to Pickering Town tomorrow night for what will be a mouth-watering clash at the Recreation Ground (7.45pm).

Pickering, who have a couple of games in hand, moved up to seventh place in the premier division after two second-half goals by Ricky Greening gave them victory at Liversedge.

Updated: 11:03 Monday, November 08, 2004