Spoils shared
Ball found Michael Clarke at the back post to head low past Crook.
With the Yorkshire side low on confidence, the opening goal looked like opening the floodgates for the hosts - who, with results going in their favour, appeared set to leap into the play-off positions.
Moments later, Clarke’s headed from a repeated Ball corner was hacked off he line by Ellis, before Sam Minihan drilled inches over the bar.
Pittman and late Harrogate substitute Chib Chilaka came closest for the away side with speculative efforts, but in truth the visitors didn’t look like threatening Hinchliffe until his own County teammate did just that.
With Harrogate pinned back as the hosts looked like conceding a second, the energetic Stopforth turned back to his own goal to find Hinchliffe with a heavy backpass.
With County’s ‘keeper in outstanding form so far this season - already looking for a pass to a teammate, the former Fylde man appeared to take his eye off the ball only to be left mortified as it raced into the goal.
Edgeley Park was left stunned into silence from the bizarre own goal, and the late drama left the hosts with no time to find a winner in front of the 3,725 at Edgeley Park and denied County a sixth straight win – and the three points which would have seen them to within goal difference of the play-off places.
But, with a tough month coming up, Gannon will be aiming to make his one-year anniversary back in charge of the club a positive one as his side seek to finally propel themselves into the promotion mix.