Toolstation NCEL Division One
Harrogate Railway 4-0 Worsbrough Bridge
Joe Crosby smashed in all FOUR as Harrogate Railway ruthlessly breezed past play-offs rivals Worsbrough Bridge thanks a brutal first half display at a foggy Station View.
Crosby is now Railway’s leading goal-scorer as his haul takes him past Dan Thirkell.
Worsbrough’s penalty area was under siege for basically the whole first stanza as Railway dominated and ensured their visitors succumbed to a four goal defeat for the second week running.
The victory was a big one for Railway as it lifts them to fourth above Rossington Main and opens up an eight point lead between them and Worsbrough.
Luke Forgione’s Worsbrough had several key men missing – Luke Danville, Alex Hutchinson, Jack Cawthorn and Ben Donoghue to name four – but it was still a hugely disappointing defeat and one that could have been far greater as at half-time they were staring down the barrel of a potential massacre.
Railway were simply magnificent and playing with confidence not seen at Station View since the high point of the Billy Miller era in 2014.
One of the key men of that great side, Rob Youhill, is back at Railway and his wing wizardry was a vital element of their latest victory.
Worsbrough had brief flurry of pressure in the opening five minutes but after that it turned into a blockade at the other end.
Crosby and captain Dan McDaid had been denied by Bridge goalkeeper Ross Pritchard before Crosby turned in Youhill cross to break the deadlock.
A error from Pritchard then gifted Crosby a tap-in in the six-yard-box.
At this point Mick O’Connell was probably suffering from flashbacks to his side’s defeat in Barnsley back in August.
That night Railway led 2-0 at half-time before losing 3-2.
The chances of happening again were quickly extinguished as Crosby broke clear and slotted past Pritchard with ease to complete his hat-trick.
A tap-in on the goal-line from a Railway free kick enabled Crosby to score his and his side’s fourth.
Game over and it wasn’t even half-time.
Railway stepped off fifth gear in the non-event second half but goalkeeper Pritchard was still called upon to make some saves.
What They Said
Harrogate Railway manager Mick O’Connell
“The first half was straight-forward and we turned up today.
“That was the team who we know.
“Apart from the first five minutes where we started slowly, we completely dominated that first half.
“We could have scored six and everyone turned up.
“We were brilliant.
“The way we moved the ball, the tempo, our aggression when winning the ball back, we absolutely smothered Worsbrough who are a very good side.”
Worsbrough Bridge manager Luke Forgione
“It is always disappointing because of the standards we have set this season.
“It was always going to be difficult with the players we had missing.
“I’m sure they had players missing but I had to play my centre-forward as a centre-back and two wingers as centre-midfield.
“We didn’t turn up though and (Harrogate) were better all over the pitch – what you could see of it!
“When I was at Handsworth we got beat 10-0 twice and I said to them (at half-time) that they had to make sure we got some pride in the second half and to make themselves more difficult to break down.
“I think we were but (Harrogate) only played in second gear in the second half.
“We were miles off it.”
The Teams
Harrogate Railway: Wilton, Hardcastle, McDaid (captain), Thirkell, Morris, Holmes, Greenway, Ibrahimi, Crosby (Shaw 89), Danby (Ward 85), Youhill (Day 79). Subs unused: Robertson, Seyffert.
Worsbrough Bridge: Pritchard, Smith, Hague, Glavin (captain), O’Connor, Francis, Kershaw (Kenny 65), Walton, Jepps, Sheppard (Stokes 77), Holt. Sub unused: Wordsworth (injured in the warm-up).
Who Was In Charge
Graham Hoggarth (10/10)
How Many Were There
145
Man of the Match
Joe Crosby (Harrogate Railway)
