Harrogate Railway striker Vincent Dhesi makes a tackle. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway gave Darlington 1883 a slight fright in the North East side’s 5-2 victory at Station View.
Lee Ashforth’s team led twice in an end-to-end first half before Darlington took full control of the match in the final 45 minutes.
The match was staged as part of the deal that saw Nathan Cartman move to the North East side and it was fitting that he got two of Darlington’s goals.
Darlington also had Rob Youhill and former Harrogate Town player Adam Nowakowski in their starting X1.
Youhill’s afternoon ended in disaster after just ten minutes. The winger dislocated an elbow in an innocuous challenge on the halfway line.
He faces two weeks on the sidelines. And although not funny at the time, the incident did provide the comedy moment of the match as his bright pink shirt wearing mother leapt like a gazelle over the barrier to get to her stricken son.
An injured Rob Youhill and his mother. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Roy Fogarty nips into score after a comedy of errors from Darlington. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Former Railway striker Nathan Cartman scored twice for Darlington. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Steve Bromley charges down Darlington goalkeeper Jack McClaren. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Steve Bromley celebrates his goal. Picture: Caught Light Photography
There was more comedy when Railway went ahead. A collision between a Darlo defender and goalkeeper Jack McClaren gave Railway striker Roy Fogerty the opportunity of a life-time – a simple tap-in.
Railway’s joy at taking the lead was short-lived as Cartman fired Darlington with a fine strike.
More uncertainty in the Darlington defence handed Railway their second half. McClaren was charged down by Steve Bromley and the striker was able to score.
Railway led for ten minutes until Cartman won a penalty. The home side briefly thought the score would remain the same when Tom Goodwin saved the spot kick. The striker followed up his effort to score the rebound.
Darlington wasted no time in going in front for the first time in the match in the second half as Kevin Burgess latched onto a Terry Galbraith inside the opening three minutes.
Railway never recovered and Tom Portas’ wonder goal effectively sealed the visitors’ victory.
Adam Mitchell completed the scoring in the closing stages.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Parkes, Hunter, Mycoe, Low, Thirkell, Lynn, Stockdill, Fogerty, Bromley, Kidd. Subs: Clamp, Dhesi, Morris, Taranadzo, Shuttleworth.
Darlington 1883: McClaren, Kitchen, A White, McNamee, Watson; Youhill, Nowakowski, Gibbons, Mitchell; Cartman, Dowson. Stauch, Jameson, Galbraith, Thompson, Burgess, Turnbull, Portas, Hunter.
Referee: Matt Sowerby