Matt Heath tries to win a header during Harrogate Railway’s 4-2 defeat at Farsley AFC. Photo: Caught Light Photography.
Farsley AFC staged a second half fightback to end Harrogate Railway’s ten match unbeaten run in a deserved 4-2 victory at Throstle Nest.
The win lifted Farsley back above Railway in the Evo Stik Division One North table.
Railway seemed on course for a tenth win in eleven competitive matches after holding a 2-0 lead at half-time through Mike Morris and Rob Youhill’s goals.
Morris was stretched off in the second half with a broken tibia as Farsley mounted a recovery effort.
Andy Welsh, Adam Priestley, Lewis Nightingale and Aiden Savory all scored to earn the home side maximum points from the local derby.
The extremely wet and windy conditions gave Rail the upper hand in the first half and Farsley were on the ropes for a lot of the first 45 minutes.
A mistake from James Riley gifted Malachi Farquharson an opening and his progress was halted by a nudge in the back from the defender and then a hand from goalkeeper Tom Taylor outside his penalty area.
Taylor was cautioned for his trouble and Nathan Cartman blasted the free kick wide as Rail turned the screw.
Tom Taylor being yellow carded for handling outside the area early on. Picture: Caught Light Photography
The deadlock was soon broken with a Rail corner only half cleared which led to Dan Thirkell spraying the ball out to the wide right for Fatlum Ibrahimi.
The midfielder fired a low cross into the six-yard-box and Morris couldn’t miss.
Railway quickly added a second. Farquharson once again held off Riley, a popular ex-Rail player, and the defender dragged him to the ground.
Referee Jane Simms played the advantage, enabling Youhill to take control of the ball and Rail’s majestic winger kept his composure to score as Taylor rushed out in vain.
Farsley did have chances themselves in the first half with Welsh and Priestley going close.
Rail finished the half strongly with Youhill having a shot parried and Morris’ narrowly flashing his long range free kick wide of the post.
Not being able to score the third goal was a crucial factor for Railway.
Farsley had the wind on their side in the second half and the homers really pressed Rail and ultimately got what they deserved.
A rare piece of miscommunication between former Leeds United defender Matt Heath and goalkeeper Tom Goodwin opened the door for Farsley and allowed Welsh to score with a simple tap-in.
Morris was taken off on the hour after coming off the worse in a tackle with Savory.
Railway celebrate Mike Morris’, who later broke his tibia, opening goal. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Mike Morris lines his free kick which flashed wide. Photo: Caught Light Photography
The influential centre-half’s departure heavily affected Rail and Thirkell was shifted from midfield to defence in the restructuring.
At times Rail couldn’t get out of their own half and an equaliser looked inevitable.
And to be fair it was something out of a Christmas cracker. Gibraltar striker Priestley ran some distance with the ball at his feet and on the edge of the box, he pulled the trigger to unleash a bullet into the top corner.
Farsley had totally turned the tables.
For the first time in over two months Rail’s defence was being exposed and it was Savory who helped supply the decisive third goal.
He managed to turn Heath and play a fine pass over to the right wing for Nightingale to latch onto and then score from with a drilled finish.
Rail heads dropped and Priestley almost scored again before Savory wrapped the points up at the death.
It was a victory that Farsley needed after the Boxing Day defeat to Brighouse Town.
For Rail, the run ends. However, a new one could start tomorrow when Ossett Albion visit Station View.
Farsley AFC manager Neil Parsley:
“It is difficult in conditions like that and it is disappointing that we had to play in conditions like that.
“It is an old cliche, but it was a game of two halves. Although I thought we still had two great chances.
“I don’t think we managed the wind very well in the first half and we got punished for poor clearances and made it easy for Harrogate to get behind us.
“But, we took our chances in the second half and maybe could have two or three more.”
Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller:
“To be fair to Farsley, I thought they came out and did really well in the second half.
“We gifted them the first goal with a little bit of a mix-up at the back, but what can we say?
“We have had one bad half in 12, 13 games so we have to take a lot of heart from that.
“Farsley have had their day today and in the second half they were better than us. There was some real clinical finishing.
“They hit us hard and got in behind us.
“We said at half-time that two probably wasn’t going to be enough and we needed one more because they would have been looking at four to win the game.
“All good things to come an end. We have had a phenomenal run and we have to pick ourselves up again and not feel sorry for ourselves.”
Farsley AFC: Taylor, Aspin, Grant, O’Brien (captain), Riley, Harris, Nightingale (Hancock 91), Daly, Priestley, Savory, Welsh. Subs unused: Porritt, Morgan, Serrant, Lofthouse.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Coates (Kidd 84), Hunter, Heath, Morris (Manning 61), Thirkell, Youhill (Bromley 88), Ibrahimi, Cartman, Farquharson, Mycoe (captain). Sub unused: Ashforth.
Referee: Jane Simms
Ref Rating: 7/10
Attendance: 274
Man of the match: Andy Welsh (Farsley AFC)