Band of brothers: Harrogate Railway notched up their seventh consecutive victory yesterday. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Patience was the key as buoyant Harrogate Railway surged to their seventh consecutive victory with a 3-0 win over New Mills at Station View.
Everybody wants to be involved at Rail at the moment – a superb atmosphere around the club has been created and even Billy Miller’s wife Sammy, who has never watched Rail play, was persuaded along to cheer his side on from the stands.
Because of the tough surface, it wasn’t quite the swashbuckling display that destroyed Frickley Athletic recently, but it was still good enough to keep the train moving, heading into Christmas.
Rail had to wait for their moment and they were rewarded with second half goals from deadly duo Nathan Cartman and Malachi Farquharson and then substitute Steve Bromley.
Rail had the most chances and deserved to win the Evo Stik Division One North match which was one of the few games taking place in Yorkshire because of frost forcing postponements elsewhere.
The pitch was hard and bobbly in patches – most so in the right-hand bottom corner which prevented influential winger and man of the match Rob Youhill from having an impact in the game during the first half.
Both sides struggled to acclimatise to the conditions and it took half-an-hour for the game to spring into life.
Harrogate Railway wing wizard Rob Youhill had a crucial role in his side’s 3-0 win. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Nathan Cartman celebrates putting Harrogate ahead. Photo: Caught Light Photography
New Mills had a lot of possession, but Rail goalkeeper Tom Goodwin was rarely tested. It was the home side who were the most threatening.
A superb defence splitting pass from Adam Baker, last week’s hero at Lancaster, sent the Evo Stik’s top goal-scorer Cartman away. Even from a difficult angle, the striker was prepared to shoot – forcing a smart one-handed save out of Ashley Aaron.
Rail knew the change of ends would prove to be vital and that is what happened.
After just four second half minutes, the deadlock was broken and Youhill was instrumental.
Midfielder Fatlum Ibrahimi showed great initiative by taking a free kick quickly to send Youhill scuttling away on his favoured side.
The winger looked up and saw his talismanic team-mate Cartman at the back-post. He crossed and Cartman nodded home as the already-committed Aaron dived the wrong way.
Youhill was the main threat to struggling New Mills. Twice he made surging runs from distance into the penalty – Aaron batted one away and the other flashed wide of the post.
The home side were exposed once in defence. Centre-half Mike Morris lost his man close to the halfway line which pushed Lawrence Hunter out of position.
Right-back Shaquille Antoine-Clarke was given a free run and passed to unmarked Ryan Hopper on the penalty spot. Hopper put his foot through the ball and Rail’s superb young goalkeeper Goodwin made an smart stop by punching the ball over the crossbar.
The visitors tired as the last 15 minutes approached. Former Leeds United defender Matt Heath rattled the post with a header before the decisive second goal arrived.
Malachi Farquharson heads home the decisive second goal. Photo: Caught Light Photography
There was pandemonium when Stephen Bromley bent the third goal into the top corner. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Rail’s set-piece expert Hunter whipped a free kick from the right-wing and the seated Farquharson somehow got the slightest of headers on the ball to divert it into the bottom corner.
Farquharson and Cartman were then withdrawn to a heroes’ reception and while Rail were still celebrating the second goal, the third strike came out of nowhere.
The visitors’ heads had dropped and their defence had disappeared when Youhill’s pass propelled Bromley through on goal.
There was pandemonium on the pitch, bench and stands as Bromley beautifully curled the ball past Aaron and into the top corner – the goal of the game.
It had happened so quickly that Railway’s brilliant PA announcer hadn’t realised Cartman had left the field and jubilantly announced him as the goal-scorer.
He’s been a busy man this season as Rail have scored in every single game – including friendlies – and New Mills were lucky the score wasn’t even more damaging as Ibrahimi smashed the crossbar from inches out.
The run goes on for Harrogate and supporters are dancing in the streets of Starbeck as Christmas approaches.
What next? An unlikely play-offs charge? In their present mood, the sky’s the limit.
Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller:
“I thought we had to be patient. I have known Souley (New Mills manager Roy Soule) for a very long time and I knew they would come and be well-organised.
“Irrespective of their league position, they are a good outfit and they play some good football.
“We said to the lads that they had to be patient and it was about having the ability to break teams down.
“We always knew that once we got our noses in front that we could potentially score one or more goals ourselves.”
On his wife Sammy’s appearance at the game:
“She doesn’t come down (to the ground) often, but has never been (to a game), even when I played.
“If you asked her where I played, she wouldn’t have a clue. I have a couple of family here today in my cousin who has come up with his son from Newark and is doing his Level Two badges and wanted to look at what we do.
“I think that enticed her down. How did she sum up the win? I don’t think she knew what colour we were playing in!
“However, I think she knew who got the third, unlike the stadium announcer!”
Harrogate Railway defender Matt Heath:
“In my opinion, the pitch was a bit of a leveller – especially in the first 15 minutes.
“We probably found it a bit difficult to get use to it. After 15 minutes we started learning what was working and started doing it.
“We broke them down slowly. They are a good team, quite organised and very resistant and we just needed to keep plugging away.
“I think we got what we deserved in the end.”
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Coates, Hunter, Heath, Morris, Ibrahimi, Youhill, Thirkell, Cartman (Bromley 84), Farquharson (Martin-Farina 84), Baker (Kidd 66). Subs unused: Hickey, Ashforth.
New Mills: Aaron, Antoine-Clarke, Fitton (Grimshaw 80), O’Brien, Gaskin, Caldecott, Hopper, Forde, Hampson (Welsby 83), Ahmadi, Douglas-Pringle (Robinson 66). Subs unused: Parson, Constantine.
Referee: Yousef Gargani
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 92
Man of the match: Rob Youhill (Harrogate Railway)