Ossett hero Fernando Moke holds off Harrogate full-back Lawrence Hunter
A quickly taken free kick gave Ossett Town a very narrow Evo Stik Division One North 1-0 win at local rivals Harrogate Railway, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Fernando Moke’s early second goal moved Town up two places in the league table and above Billy Miller’s Railway. Ossett have now won three league matches on the spin after beating Prescot Cables and previously unbeaten Curzon Ashton in the last seven days.
Chances were few and far between in the wind and rain affected game at Station View, but Ossett centre-half captain Ryan Qualter felt his side deserved the three points.
“It wasn’t a pretty game which the conditions determined,” he told Sports Performer.
“I think we just shaded it. Like when we played them at our place I thought we had the majority of possession.
“We created a little bit more, but they are a difficult team to beat and where they are in the league shows. They are very organised with two banks of four. They have a quick winger (Robbie Youhill) who is always a threat and gets his balls into the box.
“They’re good at set-pieces as well so it is a good win for us and it is also nice to get a clean sheet. I wouldn’t say as a defence we were tested that much, we were tested a lot more against Curzon in midweek.
“But today was the type of game where you can let leads slip and we have in previous games. It was nice to see it through. We were comfortable, but sometimes if you get too comfortable you get complacent.
“It was fortunate the goal and I’m surprised the ref let us take a quick free-kick. Fair play to Patts (Richard Patterson), he’s seen that they were unorganised and played a through ball. It rebounded back to Ferdy and he finished it well.”
Ossett captain Ryan Qualter highlighted the danger posed by Robbie Youhill
The first 13 minutes of the game were ruined by an unnecessary and heavy approach by the referee Stuart Campbell which saw an explosion of yellow cards. Railway’s Simon Parkes and Ossett’s Danny Patterson entered the referee’s notebook after bizarrely just 90 seconds.
The two managers Miller and his counterpart Craig Elliott were shouting at the official for common sense when Ossett striker Calum Ward and then Alex Metcalfe had their names taken.
The over-the-top start threatened to kill the game and probably did as both sets of players were afraid to make a tackle – as observation that Miller agreed with. Fortunately the cards remained in his pocket for the rest of the match.
Railway looked dangerous from every corner as their former goalkeeper Sam Dobbs, now an Ossett player, struggled to deal with any delivery that sailed into the six-yards. Dobbs was lucky to escape without conceding when his punch fell to Paul Beesley, whose attempt landed in the arms of the Ossett stopper.
Dobbs then made one of the best saves of the match. Nathan Cartman held the ball up well as left-back Lawrence Hunter made a darting run into the penalty box. The ex-Liversedge striker released the ball to Hunter and he shot for goal. Dobbs made an excellent save and managed to palm the ball away from danger.
Harrogate Railway striker Nathan Cartman helped set up his side’s best chance
Ossett finished the opening half as the better side as Peter Crook, Railway’s goalkeeper who has established himself as one of the best stoppers in the Division, had to make three good saves.
The game was still very even though and when Ossett went ahead two minutes into the second half, it was against the run. Most of the small crowd of 65 will have probably missed it as well due to being still in the clubhouse as it happened so quickly.
Ward was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and the referee allowed Town to take it straight away. Richard Patterson played the pass and Crook made the save from Jimmy Eyles. Unfortunately for Railway, Moke was there to score the rebound, with the help of the crossbar.
Railway struggled to respond as the rain began to fall. Beesley was withdrawn with veteran Colin Hunter coming on for the striker as Miller tried to breath fresh life into his side.
Parkes went close with a long range shot that flashed wide of the post. At the other end, Ward nearly the seals the points when he lobs Crook and sees the ball land just past the wrong side of the goal.
No complaints: Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller
Ossett did have to endure five minutes of added time and Dobbs was tested with several high balls in the wind. But, Railway never made him make a save and Ossett held on.
“There were probably only a couple of opportunities during the game,” Harrogate chief Miller said.
“One of them was the free kick that Ossett took quickly and scored. I thought it was going to come down to one chance either way. I didn’t think we created enough for winning the game, that’s for certain.
“A draw may have been a fair reflection of it. In the circumstances of the goal, I didn’t really see it. I was stood behind the goal coming out after half-time. There was a lot of appeals from our lads about the position.
“We’ve just heard from their players that they were surprised the goal stood. But after that, it was a catalogue of errors. Peter Crook made a great save and we haven’t reacted quick enough.
“It was a good finish by Ferdy. I’ve no complaints over the course of the game. It was a game played in the middle third and I thought we had some good possession.
“Looking at the chances for both teams, neither goalkeeper has really been called into action.”
Harrogate Railway: Crook, Thirkell, L Hunter, Morris, Maloney (captain), Parkes, Beesley (C Hunter 66), Dixon (Ibrahimi 78), Cartman, Metcalfe, Youhill. Subs unused: Wood, Kidd, Ashforth.
Ossett Town: Dobbs, Stohrer, Jeff, D Patterson, Qualter (captain), N Wood, R Patterson (Clarke-Adams 62), Sharry, Eyles (C Wood 78), Ward (Fox 87), Moke.
Referee: S Campbell
Attendance: 65
Man of the match: Steven Jeff (Ossett Town)
Match Photos are HERE