Railway march into the play-offs

Soaring Harrogate Railway steamed into the Evo Stik Division One North play-offs by completing the double over title challengers Salford City with a deserved 1-0 win at Station View.

Talisman Nathan Cartman’s late penalty earned surprise package Railway their ninth win in ten games to send Billy Miller’s men into fifth spot.

Their new position is an achievement in itself and it rounds off a memorable year at Harrogate which ends with other teams likely to sit up and rightly take notice of them now.

The match, the only one played in Yorkshire, was in doubt in the morning due to frost and snow.

Miller and a large band of committee members and volunteers spent the entire morning working to ensure the game went ahead and they got their reward – not just with the result.

Over 400 people took advantage of the free admission offer – including Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and a group of Darlington 1883 fans, who were cheering on Railway.

Class of 92-owned Salford probably left the ground wishing the snow had come down heavier in North Yorkshire and the match had been postponed.

The only thing that was heavy was the pitch which clearly affected both teams’ style of play.

Wing wizard Rob Youhill struggled to make headway attacking the social club end because of the hard conditions was one example.

There was a cup final feel to the game and there was tension for a large majority of it.

Salford were on top early doors and were certainly dangerous on the counter attack during the first half.

But, Rail had the better chances. Cartman had a goal disallowed and the returning Malachi Farquharson forced a save out of Salford goalkeeper Daniel Lloyd-Weston.

Rail goalkeeper Tom Goodwin, who was a rock, did have to make an excellent stop from Tom Buckley on the stroke of half-time.

Rail quickly gained control of the game in the second half by winning the ball back from the kick-off and forcing a corner inside 20 seconds.

Salford began to lose their discipline on and off-the-pitch.

Centre-half Robbie Williams should have walked for a series of poor challenges and Salford manager Phil Power was lucky to have remained in his technical area after showing extreme dissent towards the superb referee Mick Connell late in the game.

The home side simply had to be patient and wait for the moment.

The pressure mounted considerably for Salford with Cartman, Farquharson and Adam Baker all seeing attempts smothered up by Lloyd-Weston within 10 minutes of the final half starting.

Harrogate’s midfield pairing of Fatlum Ibrahimi and Dan Thirkell were excellent – winning tackles, headers and helping to set up attacks.

Salford created little and former Sheffield United striker Danny Webber was non-existence.

The Railwaymen were continuing to apply pressure and in the lead-up to the winning goal, Farquaharson had narrowly missed with a header from point blank range.

Having scored in all of their 24 league games along with a developing reputation for late goals, Railway were always going to get another chance to pounce.

Salford must have feared Cartman because of his hat-trick in last month’s match between them as the striker must have been left battered and bruised after all the fouls he had taken.

Williams had ran out of lives and couldn’t touch him in the last 20 minutes and that helped to open door to the top five.

Cartman nutmegged the beleaguered defender inside the penalty area and was then tripped by Martyn Andrews.

Referee Connell showed no hesitation and gave the spot kick straightaway.

The crowd waited with baited breath and Cartman came up with the goods by sending Lloyd-Weston the wrong way – his 35th goal of a remarkable campaign.

The striker ran to his young son Alfie with every outfield Railway player joining him to celebrate the big moment.

Railway were then able to soak up all of Salford’s weak attacks in the final 18 minutes and they probably should have finished their disappointing visitors off with a second goal.

Youhill was unlucky with two powerful runs and Cartman produced the save of the match out of Lloyd-Weston with an attempt that looked destined for the top corner.

Salford were soon put out of their misery to leave Railway celebrating another scalp and a victory will ensure that they will win the December club of the month award.

The home side went off to a heroes’ reception and in the knowledge that they have become one of the most feared sides in the league.

Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Mycoe (captain), Hunter, Heath, Morris, Thirkell, Youhill, Cartman, Farquharson, Baker (Manning 64). Subs unused: Coates, Bromley, Kidd, Martin-Farina.
Salford City: Lloyd-Weston, Coo (Edgehill 68), Neville, Andrews, Lynch, Williams, Rother (Chadwick 80), Jarrett, Webber, Buckley, Madeley (Thorne 65). Subs unused: Walters, Dunn.
Referee: Mick Connell (Castleford)
Ref Rating: 10/10
Attendance: 403
Man of the match: Fatlum Ibrahimi (Harrogate Railway)