Toolstation NCEL Division One
Harrogate Railway 2-0 Wakefield AFC
Luke Stewart’s double earned dominant Harrogate Railway all three points against a lacklustre Wakefield AFC.
Stewart struck in both halves to maintain Railway’s positive start to the season.
Railway were in control from almost start to finish and if you were to hyper-critical, Mick O’Connell’s side should have scored far more.
Wakefield’s season has now definitely hit rocky shores.
There’s no doubt that losing the likes of core players Jake Morrison, Jock Curran, Brad Swain, Danny Youel and James Morris is a blow.
But that’s now two defeats on the spin and especially concerning must have been the second half display as they rarely ventured into their hosts’ half, let alone have a shot on goal.
Railway goalkeeper Joe Wilton could have stayed at home for the second half.
Wakefield pride themselves on playing out from the back but that was one of their undoings.
Railway pressed high and aggressively and consistently won the ball back, most evidently in the second half.
The home side landed the first blow from a free kick.
Jack Lazenby’s low effort from 25 yards was turned into the left-hand bottom corner by Stewart.
Apart from a very brief of pressure which saw Jayden Sandhu place a shot wide, Wakefield failed to respond.
Whilst Harrogate dominated, the wait for the second goal was long as it came 22 minutes into the second half.
Lazenby was the architect as he forced his way into the six-yard box and sent the ball towards the far post where Stewart was waiting to turn the ball home.
Two could have easily turned into more as further chances followed.
What They Said
Harrogate Railway manager Mick O’Connell
“I thought in possession we looked really comfortable.
“The most pleasing thing for me was how good we were out of possession.
“The last few games we haven’t been good enough out of possession.
“Today we were brilliant out of possession and I think we completely nullified all of their threats.
“Their centre-forward ended up dropping even deeper which was better for us.
“I don’t think our ‘keeper had a proper save to make.
“Overall performance-wise I thought we were outstanding.
“With all due respect to Wakefield we could have scored four-or-five today.”
Wakefield AFC manager Gabe Mozzini
“We’re not able to create dangerous chances and not able to be dangerous and be threatening.
“That was our problem today and we need to work on it.
“(Harrogate) deserved to win.
“They created more.”
The Teams
Harrogate Railway: Wilton, Hardcastle, McDaid (captain), Thirkell, Morris, Shepherd, Crosby, Greenway, A Ibrahimi, Lazenby, Stewart. Subs: Holmes, F Ibrahimi, Owen, Banks, Danby.
Wakefield AFC: Kendrick, Pilkington, Craig, Claisse, Woodward (captain), Joksas, Ruble, Sandhu, Blankley, Mole, Hernandez. Subs: Horridge, Kirman, Booth, Ragan, Wilman.
Who Was In Charge
Fotios Skoutas (8/10)
How Many Were There
148
Man of the Match
Andrew Shepherd (Harrogate Railway)
