Evo Stik Division One North
Harrogate Railway 0-7 Warrington Town
Harrogate Railway manager Lee Ashforth. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Struggling Harrogate Railway have to quickly move on after champions-elect Warrington Town tore them apart at Station View.
That’s because Lee Ashforth and his side have a string of winnable battles to face during March, 31 days which are likely to have a big say in their survival fight.
After the excellent draw at Northwich, optimism was high at Station View but a disastrous start put pay to any hopes of another good result.
Warrington had the confidence, swagger and power of a team destined to take the crown and the points were effectively in the bag after just 23 minutes.
The visitors were all over Railway like a rash – Gerard Kinsella struck the first after Railway failed to clear their lines. A superb advantage from the referee then allowed Scott Metcalfe to race down the left-wing and place a powerful low strike into the far bottom corner from a difficult angle
Railway were soon completely blown away as Joseph Holt did something similar – the only difference being the help of the post.
Rail heads understandably dropped. The fourth goal arrived just after half-time, courtesy of a debatable free kick. A scramble ensued and Ben Deegan forced the ball over-the-line.
How good Warrington were was probably defined by the fifth – a sublime volley from Kinsella from the edge of the penalty area.
Warrington rubbed the salt in the wounds with a Steven Gillespie penalty and Ciaran Kilheeney header.
Harrogate Railway manager Lee Ashforth:
Harrogate Railway: Hallwood, Mellor (Parkes 56), Lovegreen, Low, Coates, Thirkell, Devine (Stockdill 59), Clamp, Youhill, Ovington (Sharrocks 53), Curtis. Subs unused: Barrett, Owen.
Warrington Town: Willis, Brown, Lea, Ventre (Dean 77), McCarten, O’Donnell, Holt (Gaghan 59), Kinsella, Killheeney, Deegan (Gillespie 70), Metcalfe. Subs unused: Robinson, Beattie.
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Attendance: 87
Man of the match: Gerard Kinsella (Warrington Town)