Returning striker Lamin Colley levels for Harrogate Railway. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway’s dream of reaching the Evo Stik Division One North play-offs hang in the balance after a shock 2-1 defeat to lowly Prescot Cables at Station View.
Railway initially overcame a bad start with returning striker Lamin Colley equalising.
But, a second half winner earned Prescot all three points which lift them further away from second-bottom New Mills.
Such a result looked implausible at 7.15pm as Prescot stumbled into the ground late, forcing a 8pm kick off.
Their travelling problems did not affect them one bit and it was Railway who looked like the team who had just stepped off a bus.
Nobody moved as former Southport midfielder Neil Prince picked up the ball 25 yards out. Prince was allowed to shoot and the player-manager’s low effort somehow nestled in the bottom corner after just two minutes gone.
Parity was quickly restored with Colley heading home a Jason Mycoe corner – a perfect return to Station View for the Bradford (Park Avenue) player, who will play for Railway to get some games under his belt.
Railway had opportunities to grab the lead. Former Yorkshire Amateur goalkeeper Ciaran Gibson batted a Fatlum Ibahimi and there was even controversy at the start of the second half.
In a rare break, Malachi Farquharson was denied by Gibson and Colley latched onto the rebound and sent the ball towards the empty goal. Prescot defender James McCulloch put his body on the line to block the effort and turn it away for a corner. Railway appealed for the penalty, claiming handball, but referee Ken Haycock was unmoved.
All the momentum built up soon disappeared as Railway struggled to string passes together. Prescot got their deserved winner from a long range free kick from Prince and it was McCulloch, who nodded home from close range.
With the rain coming down and the pitch cutting up, Harrogate had no answer in the final 20 minutes.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Armstrong, Hunter (Triumbari 80), Heath, Morgan, Thirkell, Mycoe (captain) (Kidd 70), Ibrahimi, Farquharson (Bromley 70), Colley, Youhill. Subs unused: Coates, Martin-Farina.
Prescot Cables: Gibson, Harper, Ryan, O’Reilly, Hollett, McCulloch (captain), Gardner (McLaughlin 67), Prince, Jenkins (Edgar 93), Phillips, Durnin. Subs unused: Black, Dodd, Morrow.
Referee: Ken Haycock
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 79
Man of the match: Neil Prince (Prescot Cables)
Video courtesy of Caught Light Photography.