Rob Youhill watches as his sensational strike hits the back of the net for Harrogate Railway – silencing the Darlington home crowd. Photo: Caught Light Photography
The scoreline doesn’t suggest it, but Harrogate Railway can take some pride from their performance in the face of adversity at Evo Stik Division One North giants Darlington 1883 last night.
A 7-1 defeat does look bad and Darlington thoroughly deserved to win. However, the home side were on the ropes in the first 20 minutes, leading up to the game’s turning point when Railway goalkeeper Karl Dean was forced off.
Whether Darlington believed him or not, Harrogate manager Billy Miller promised to throw everything at their hosts and they certainly did in the early stages.
Darlington can’t dispute that a Harrogate goal was on the cards after the way Railway started the match.
Rob Youhill was tearing right-back Gary Brown to dreads down the left-wing and Railway were getting in some good positions.
Youhill then scored a contender for goal of the season to silence the home support and put his name on the score-sheet for the first time this season.
The winger took Brown on before cutting inside to move into the penalty area. Youhill unleashed a tremendous strike into the top corner, stunning the hosts.
You could hear a pin drop inside Heritage Park.
Railway kept plugging away with Mike Morris and Youhill going close with chances.
But that is when luck deserted Railway.
Nathan Cartman was clearly fouled in the build-up to the equalising goal, but weak referee Marc Edwards played on and Brown was able to cross from the right and Purewal rose to head home.
If the equaliser was a blow, worse was to follow as Purewal collided with goalkeeper Dean and the latter was left out for the count on the ground.
The concussed Dean had to come off and assistant manager and substitute goalkeeper Lee Ashforth, who ran the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, was forced on.
Despite the odds against them, Harrogate Railway ran all night and deserve credit for their performance. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Nathan Cartman is unable to win the ball. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Harrogate Railway celebrating Rob Youhill’s stunning equalising goal. Photo: Caught Light Photography
Whilst Railway didn’t throw in the towel, the intensity of the opening 20 minutes was totally lost and Darlington capitalised by putting their visitors under severe pressure.
Purewal was in again within minutes – scoring with a fine effort as Harry Coates closed in to block.
The game was in Darlington’s hands and goal number three soon arrived.
A good piece of play between Adam Mitchell and Ian Watson opened the door for a pass across goal which was side-footed into the net by former Harrogate Town striker Graeme Armstrong.
For Railway all was not lost at half-time and Miller’s men started strongly in the second half.
Malachi Farquarson went close with early attempts before Darlo put the game totally out of Railway’s reach.
A positive Railway can take is that Stephen Thompson, rated as one of the best players in the league, was marked out of the game for large parts by Lawrence Hunter.
Thompson did have a role in the fourth and fifth goal, but other than that he had a quiet night.
The winger forced his way into the box to supply with Purewal with the ball – enabling the ex-Durham City striker to complete hat-trick.
Thompson then matched Youhill with the joint goal of the night after being allowed room to strike a superb shot into the net from 25 yards.
There was still 28 minutes on the clock so the night was not going to get any better.
A scramble from a Brown free kick allowed Hatch to score the sixth goal.
The rout was completed in the 73rd minute with Hatch adding his second with a simple close range finish.
Contrary to local media reports, Harrogate never gave up. They kept going hoping for a break of luck against a clinical Darlington side.
The bad night was further summed up when Fatlum Ibrahimi was smashed to the ground by goalkeeper Peter Jameson just inside the 18-yard-box.
A brave and good referee would have given the penalty, but with Edwards in charge, it wasn’t going to happen.
Railway have to move on and focus on Warrington Town, who are due to visit Station View on Saturday.
If the intensity of the first 20 minutes can be replicated for the full match then Harrogate will be in with a great chance of victory.
Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller said:
“Luck did desert us tonight, but to be fair to them there was some quality finishing.
“Up until the moment where they equalised we looked pretty decent and it was a great finish from Rob Youhill.
“To then lose Deano at that stage didn’t really help us because the intensity went from the game.
“But we never gave up. The lads are down in there because the score, but we’ll pick ourselves up and go again.
“It was a free hit for us tonight against one of the fancied sides because no-one expects us to come here and win.”
Darlington 1883: Jameson, Brown (captain), Watson, White, Hunter, Portas, Mitchell, Scott (Robinson 57), Armstrong (Pennal 66), Purewal (Hatch 57), Thompson. Subs unused: Bell, Cocks.
Harrogate Railway: Dean (Ashforth 23), Thirkell, Kidd, Morris, Coates, Mycoe (captain), Youhill (Bromley 73), Ibrahimi, Cartman, Farquarson, Hunter (Hickey 80). Sub unused: Simpson.
Referee: M Edwards
Ref rating: 5/10
Attendance: 768
Man of the match: Amar Purewal (Darlington 1883)