Toolstation NCEL Division One
Harrogate Railway 2-0 Hall Road Rangers
An Aidan Smith own goal and Marcus Day’s late goal broke Hall Road Rangers’ resistance and moved Harrogate Railway to within two points of clinching a play-offs spot.
But it took Railway some time to break down their visitors who put in a decent shift in.
Railway, whose wing wizard Rob Youhill, or maybe the Dark Wizard as he only needed a sawed-off shotgun to complete the bank robber match-day outfit was on the bench, struggled in the wind in the first half.
Hall Road had the first half’s best chance.
Sam Robinson managed to breach Railway’s back-line from a long punt forward but his effort was pushed wide for a corner by Joe Wilton.
The miss haunted Hall Road three minutes into the second half.
Although there was an appeal for a foul, goalkeeper Smith carelessly punched Dan McDaid’s corner into the back of his own net, gifting Railway the lead.
Chances were at a premium – the jovial banter between the management teams was more entertaining at times.
Just seven minutes were remaining when Railway sealed the points.
Hall Road conceded possession from their own attacking throw-in and Dan Thirkell’s ‘Peter Kay’ sent Day away.
Helped by Smith sticking close to his goal-line, a clever header took Day closer to goal and the striker went onto cooly lift the ball over the goalkeeper to round the day off.
What They Said
Harrogate Railway manager Mick O’Connell
“It was a scruffy game and we had the better chances.
“We never settled down in the first half and never got playing and didn’t get our passing going.
“The wind didn’t help and the pitch was bobbly but it is that time of year when it is about grinding out results and trying to put wins together.
“It was a stroke of luck taking the lead as the ‘keeper punched it into his own net but I think we deserved to take the lead.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck to kick you into gear.”
Hall Road Rangers joint manager Leon Sewell
“I thought we were really unfortunate not to come away with at least a point.
“I must admit we have had two really good games against Harrogate and fine margins is the long and short of it.
“I think if we take that chance in the first half, it is a different story and conversation.
“Second half, I thought it was a foul on Aidan for the first goal. I told the linesman to look at the Harrogate player backing into our ‘keeper.
“They hit us on the break for the second goal from our throw-in in the final third.”
The Teams
Harrogate Railway: Wilton, Hardcastle, McDaid (captain) (Robertson 84), Thirkell, Morris, Holmes, Crosby (Davies 73), Ibrahimi, Day, Shepherd, Greenway (Danby 86). Subs unused: Youhill, Shaw.
Hall Road Rangers: Smith, Bullement (Williams 78), Chaffer, Andrew, Piercy, Knaggs (captain), Griffin, Bennett, Robinson, McFadyen (Gibson 67), Spinks (Parker 78). Sub unused: Withill.
Who Was In Charge
Craig Atkin (5/10)
How Many Were There
149
Man of the Match
Fatlum Ibrahimi (Harrogate Railway)