Roy Fogerty turns away after scoring for Harrogate Railway near the end of their win over Radcliffe. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 success over Radcliffe Borough at Station View after both sides had been reduced to ten men.
Railway took the lead after 15 minutes when Stephen Bromley slid in to convert Vincent Dhesi’s low cross before referee Daniel Woodward issued two red cards within the space of three minutes on the stroke of half-time.
In the Evo Stik Division One North clash, Callum Hoctor was dismissed first for kicking out at Dhesi, before Lawrance Hunter was giving his marching orders for what was adjudged to be a dangerous sliding challenge.
The visitors equalised seven minutes into the second half through Matthew Davies, but after a change of formation, Dhesi curled Railway into the lead after 77 minutes.
Jack Stockdill added to the lead five minutes later with a memorable 40-yard strike before substitute Roy Fogarty put the icing on the cake for Railway, finishing Ryan Sharrocks’ cross with his first touch of the game.
Railway manager Lee Ashforth opted for the 4-4-2 that had caused Spennymoor problems in the second half of Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay with Bromley replacing Charlie Clamp.
Radcliffe Borough looked dangerous down the right wing in the first action of the afternoon with both Davies and Thomas Hulme getting on the end of crosses, but failing to find the net.
Railway took the lead after 15 minutes when Jordan Outerbridge struck a defence splitting half volleyed pass to release Dhesi through on goal and the attacker unselfishly squared for Bromley to slide into the goalmouth and put the hosts ahead.
Railway continued to trouble Radcliffe with successive corners; the first, an Alex Low header, was saved by Chris Cheetham then Dan Thirkell couldn’t direct his header into the net after Borough’s keeper had misjudged the flight of the ball.
The contest was extremely open in the first half with Steve Foster bobbling a shot into Tom Goodwin’s arms for the visitors, while Hunter and Stockdill missed the target with long range efforts.
Both keepers were then called into action mid-way through the half when Cheetham raced off his line to deny Dhesi the opportunity to shoot and Goodwin sharply tipped a strike over at the other end.
The referee then took centre stage in the final five minutes of the half as he brandished red cards for both Hoctor and Hunter.
Hoctor had reacted angrily to Dhesi’s challenge and lashed out at the Railway number ten under the nose of the linesman who quickly informed the referee and sent Hoctor on his way.
Just three minutes later Hunter went to ground in the middle of the pitch and, although no contact was made with the opponent, a set of studs were showing and the left-back was quickly dismissed.
Railway started on the front foot in the second half and almost took the lead on two occasions through Bromley, first when Cheetham stretched out a hand to push away a shot rolling into the bottom right corner and then as the striker fired over on his left foot.
Danny Johnson’s side were looking to attack the space left by Hunter’s dismissal with Bevan Burey causing problems down the right wing and consistently crossing towards the men in the middle.
The visitors then found an equaliser in the 52nd minute. Moments after Simon Parkes had made multiple blocks to deny Radcliffe, the ball was delivered back in towards Davies and, although Goodwin was quick off his line to close his opposition down, Railway’s ‘keeper’s clearance cannoned off Davies and into the net.
Radcliffe then had a spell on the front foot with Burey’s shot held well by Goodwin before the winger managed to poke the ball past the Railway ‘keeper only for Greg Kidd to clear before the ball could cross the line.
After an offensive change from Ashforth saw Railway move to a back three, the hosts took the lead for the second time of the afternoon when Dhesi picked up possession 18 yards out and curled a right footed effort into the top corner leaving Cheetham with no chance.
With Radcliffe pushing men forward to find a way back into the game, Railway substitutes Fatlum Ibrahimi and Kidd were causing problems down the left and both forced saves from Cheetham.
It was a moment of brilliance that put the result beyond doubt, however, as Stockdill spotted Cheetham off his line and expertly lifted the ball over the out of position goalkeeper from 40 yards.
Railway then got their fourth and final goal of the afternoon when Sharrocks sent a low cross in from the right for Fogarty to tap into the net with his first touch since coming on.
Kidd and Ibrahimi went close to adding a fifth in the final few minutes, but Railway will be delighted with the win and go on to host Mossley on Monday night.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Parkes (Ibrahimi 69), Hunter, Low, Thirkell, Pells, Sharrocks, Stockdill, Bromley (Fogarty 84), Dhesi, Outerbridge (Kidd 47). Subs unused: Brown, Clamp.
Radcliffe Borough: Cheetham, Forbes, Hoctor, Valentine, Smith, McGrath, Burey (Hindle 80), Davies, Foster (McMahon 59), Hulme, McKenzie (Rokka 35). Subs unused: Fitzgerald, Carr.
Referee: Daniel Woodward
Attendance: 79
Thanks to Hall Boxhall-Dockree for this report.