Bad night for Rail, good night for Scarborough. Harrogate striker Vincent Dhesi holds off Ryan Qualter. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Scarborough Athletic look good value for being Evo Stik Division One North title candidates after the 6-0 hammering of Harrogate Railway.
Scarborough had the three points wrapped up by the 20th minute after racking up four quick-fire goals which included a hat-trick from Tom Corner.
That’s now four wins from four games and four clean sheets for the league leaders, who have a stunning array of strength and experience in their side.
They have come a long way since their last visit to Station View last November when a poor Scarborough team were outclassed by a Nathan Cartman led Harrogate.
Railway ran riot and won 3-0 to land a knockout blow on Rudy Funk, who resigned straight after the final whistle.
Bryan Hughes and Paul Foot were immediately installed as his replacements and their team had a straightforward evening last night.
The first quarter was a horror show for Lee Ashforth and his Railway side. The 12 minutes of madness started with Corner rising to head home former Harrogate Town man Nathan Peat’s cross.
Three individual mistakes then put the game beyond Railway’s reach. Dan Thirkell’s mis-cue allowed Gary Bradshaw to slot home with ease.
Scarborough took full advantage of Railway’s bad spell as Corner rose to flick Peat’s free kick from his own half into the net.
Railway goalkeeper Tom Goodwin got even worse as another mix-up allowed ex-Ossett Albion and Bradford (Park Avenue) forward Corner to complete his treble.
Apart from then nearly gifting Corner a fourth, Railway gathered themselves and did reasonably well in what was now a damage limitation exercise.
They held out from conceding the fifth until the hour mark when a free kick dropped nicely for substitute Alex Peterson to finish.
A superb night for Scarborough and a dreadful one for Harrogate was soon rounded. Popular striker Ryan Blott got his goal with a lob over the onrushing Goodwin – although Railway did have cause for complaint with referee Mark Dwyer and assistant Mark Findlay as the pair missed Blott almost have time to autograph the ball after bringing it down with his hand.
Kendal or Northwich Victoria could knock Scarborough off the top tonight, but even if they do, the Seadogs head into the FA Cup weekend with plenty of hope for the coming months.
Harrogate Railway: Goodwin, Mycoe (Brown 53), Outerbridge, Low, Clamp, Thirkell, Sharrocks, Stockdill, Fogarty (Bromley 23), Dhesi, Lyn (Kidd 69). Subs unused: Ibrahimi, Morris.
Scarborough Athletic: Hallwood, Plummer (Metcalfe HT), Robson, Peat (captain), Qualter, Mallory, Fox, Davidson, Corner (Blott 55), Bradshaw (Peterson 55), Rowe. Subs unused: Lamplaugh, Skelton.
Referee: Mark Dwyer
Ref Rating: 7/10
Attendance: 301
Man of the match: Tom Corner (Scarborough Athletic)