Cathal Heffernan scored his first EFL goal as Harrogate Town continued their fight for safety with a hard‑earned draw against in‑form Cheltenham at The EnviroVent Stadium.

The 20‑year‑old defender rose highest to nod home early in the second half, cancelling out Isaac Hutchinson’s opener and extending the Sulphurites’ unbeaten run to five matches.

The point lifts them level with Barrow in the battle to escape the drop, though a win would have taken them out of the relegation zone for the first time since December.

Chances were at a premium during a cagey opening period, with neither side able to register a shot on target.

The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval when George Miller was picked out by an excellent Arkell Jude‑Boyd delivery from the right, but the Cheltenham striker failed to connect properly just four yards out.

The game burst into life within a minute of the restart.

Jake Bickerstaff drove to the byline on the left and pulled the ball back into space, allowing Hutchinson to sweep home his 14th goal of the campaign from 12 yards to give Cheltenham the advantage.

But their lead lasted barely four minutes.

From Reece Smith’s inswinging corner, Heffernan made a clever run to the near post and looped a header over Joe Day to bring Harrogate level and send the home support into full voice.

The hosts pushed hard for a winner, but Day produced a series of superb saves to deny Bryn Morris, Smith, Ellis Taylor and Bobby Faulkner as Harrogate applied sustained pressure.

Despite those opportunities, Cheltenham held firm to extend their own unbeaten streak to four matches.

Heffernan’s first EFL goal earns Harrogate valuable point against Cheltenham

Heffernan’s first EFL goal earns Harrogate valuable point against Cheltenham