Hero of the hour: Nathan Cartman watches as his back-heeled winner finds the net for Harrogate Railway. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Nathan Cartman stole the headlines again as Harrogate Railway staged a remarkable injury-time comeback to knock ten-man Goole AFC out of the Doodson Sport Cup at Station View.
Cartman’s incredible season continued with two goals in the dying minutes to earn Railway an undeserved 2-1 win over Curtis Woodhouse’s Goole.
Despite the sending-off of Andy Gascoigne, Goole were the better side and showed the qualities that have made them hard to beat in the Evo Stik Division One South.
Goole are organised and well-drilled along with difficult to break down and that was evident.
The remaining ten players put a shift in for Woodhouse, but they ultimately left Harrogate tasting disappointment.
The game had hardly got started when striker Gascoigne departed on 25 minutes in bizarre circumstances.
Harrogate were ready to take a free kick on the edge of their penalty area as referee Garreth Rhodes was called over by his eagle-eyed assistant Joe Knowles 40 yards away.
After deliberations, Gascoigne was red carded for kicking out at former Leeds United centre-half Matt Heath off-the-ball – a decision that no-one disputed.
Goole persevered with the same system and it paid off until the final acts. As the first half closed, Railway were restricted to long range attempts which were dealt with by Peter Fotko.
Harrogate were asleep at the start of the second half and the home side paid the price.
Billy Law scored with a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area and the visitors were holding on very comfortably.
Railway had produced one of their worst performances of the campaign and never looked likely to break down a resolute Goole team, whose work rate was tremendous.
Then as the first minute of stoppage time passed, a Adam Baker corner was poorly defended and that man Cartman scored – ensuring Rail’s record of scoring in every match this season remained intact.
Potential penalty-takers were probably being scribbled down at this point – well at least until the unbelievable climax.
Baker showed speed and agility to storm into the penalty area past a Goole defender.
The midfielder played a low pass across the six-yard and one of Europe’s top goal-scorers Cartman coolly back-heeled the ball into the bottom corner past a helpless Fotko – sparking wild celebrations.
Railway will now host Frickley Athletic in the second round next Monday.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Coates, Kidd, Heath, Thirkell, Mycoe (captain), Youhill, Ibrahimi (Hunter 79), Cartman, Baker, Hickey (Bromley 64). Subs unused: Farquharson, Dean.
Goole AFC: Fotko, Turner, Matthews, Wilkinson, Sabo, Harrison, Law (Taylor 73), McCaffrey, Gascoigne, Thewlis, Woolley (Lawrence 89). Subs unused: Nyoni, Williams.
Referee: G Rhodes (Barkston Ash)
Ref Rating: 9/10
Attendance: 57
Man of the match: Nathan Cartman (Harrogate Railway)
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Even Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller admitted his side got out of jail in his post match interview (video courtesy of Caught Light Photography).