Askham Bryan College student Dan Hickey scores his first goal for Harrogate Railway. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway marched into the Doodson Sport Cup quarter-finals with a straight-forward 5-1 win over a young Spennymoor Town side at Station View.
Jesus Martin-Farina ensured the game was over inside the opening 15 minutes with a hat-trick – a remarkable start for the striker, who was returning to the side after spending Christmas at home in Tenerife.
Rob Youhill removed any doubt about the result close to half-time and after a Spennymoor goal, young Askham Bryan College student Dan Hickey got his first Railway goal late in the game in a special moment.
Spennymoor struggled to acclimatise early-on and paid the price as Rail’ rampaged forward. It was Malachi Farquharson’s defence-splitting pass which sent Martin-Farina away and the striker scored a composed finish.
Martin-Farina was then in the right place at the right time as a Greg Kidd corner was knocked down for him to score from in the six-yard-box.
Memories of the 7-1 demolition of Frickley in the last round were probably on many people’s minds at this point and Spennymoor were truly dead and buried when Scott Manning burst through and was hauled to the ground. A voice from above shouted ‘let Jesus take it’ and so he did – hitting the target and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Rob Youhill leaves nothing to chance and smashes the ball home. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Ensuring they picked up no injuries was the priority as the game wore on. Youhill sprinted clear after a couple of very fortunate ricochets and smashed Harrogate into a four-goal lead at half-time.
The winger was withdrawn at half-time along with Farquharson for Askham Bryan students Hickey and Luca Compton – a perfect chance for the duo.
Railway switched off a couple of times which allowed the visitors. Michael Roberts hit the crossbar before Manning’s mistake allowed Reece Brown to score.
But, the moment of the match belonged to Hickey, who had narrowly missed a glorious self-carved chance earlier. Hickey turned Manning’s cross home at the back-post – a great moment for the club’s link with Askham Bryan.
Railway will play either Ramsbottom United or Northwich away in the next round.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Coates, Manning, Heath, Mycoe (captain), Thirkell, Youhill (Hickey HT), Ibrahimi, Martin-Farina, Farquharson (Crompton HT), Kidd. Sub unused: Ashforth.
Spennymoor Town: Atkinson, Grovers (captain), Gibson, G Brown, Clarke, Willis, Lynch (R Brown 61), Kenney, Ward, Roberts, McReady (McKenna 85).
Referee: Jason Tyas
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 84
Man of the match: Matt Heath (Harrogate Railway)