Harrogate Railway midfielder Adam Baker rides a challenge in their 4-1 win over the British Army
Harrogate Railway’s concluded their excellent pre-season campaign with a 4-1 win over a British Army X1.
Greg Kidd, Lamin Colley, Jason Mycoe and Adam Baker scored in the comfortable victory which sets up Railway nicely for the Evo Stik Dviision One North opening fixture with Mossley on Saturday.
Railway assistant manager Lee Ashforth, who also stood in as the Army’s goalkeeper for 60 minutes, told Non League Yorkshire: “It was good preparation.
“It is a game we played last year as well through Billy’s link with the Army. It was the same with the Field game last week with my links with them.
“They are ideal games because we knew they were going to be quite physical and a hard side so we knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride for our players.
“We did expect them to go out and win the game and they did, quite comfortably in the end.
“These types of game give us the chance to keep possession, have lots of shots and to get plenty of people in the box.
“The other thing is that the Army weren’t going to tire towards the end so we knew we had to go for 90 minutes.
“It was a good workout for the lads.”
Harrogate Railway assistant manager Lee Ashforth made a string of outstanding saves for the British Army last night
Railway have remained unbeaten during pre-season and that record was always going to remain intact last night.
New striker Colley, who played for Farsley AFC and Liversedge between 2010 and 2012, was a threat to the Army with his long-dangly legs.
Kidd gave Railway the lead with a well-taken strike inside the first eight minutes and the Army failed to have a shot at Harrogate’s new number one goalkeeper Karl Dean.
The home side should have extended their lead on the stroke of half-time. Their captain for the evening Jason Mycoe hit the crossbar with the ball fell to Colley who somehow missed the target from two yards.
Colley made up for the miss early in the second half by converting a tap-in.
Ashforth then turned his display into an outstanding one with a string of superb saves.
New Harrogate Railway midfielder Jason Mycoe scored their third goal in the win over the British Army
He parried Mycoe’s thunderbolt attempt away from danger and then spectacularly tipped Baker’s goal-bound long range strike over the crossbar.
That was his final act of an exceptional one-off comeback performance and he was replaced by the Army’s young goalkeeper, who was making his debut.
The Army pulled a goal back before Mycoe scored a fluke from a deep cross and then Baker hit the goal of the game with a brilliant long range strike.
There’s no question that Railway are ready for the season, but they won’t have Ashforth in goal.
“I certainly won’t be in the frame for Saturday as my playing days are definitely over now,” he added.
“That’s me finished.”
Harrogate Railway: Dean, Misambu, Hunter, Hesketh, Thirkell, Morris, Coates, Mycoe (captain), Colley, Baker, Kidd. Subs: Bromley, Dwyer, Coupland, Phelps.
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Ref Rating: 7.5
Look out for some match photos on our Facebook page later today.