Rail loose out to League leaders Lancaster City at the second time of asking

LANCASTER CITY 3 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0

TEAM NEWS: With the injuries to both Aaron Hollingdrake and Kevin Ryan and the departure of Nathan Cartman Phil Sharpe had to make 3 enforced changes to the team that narrowly lost out to Clitheroe 12 days ago. In came Phil Mitchell, Steve Ball & Dan Verity and with Matt Johnson absent it meant we couldn’t afford any injuries with only 2 on the bench.

As like our previous visit to the ‘The Giant Axe’ we fell to an early goal. An angled ball through our defence and midfield caught us out as we appealed for offside. It fell nicely for the wide man as he went in on goal but he unselfishly squared the ball to the far post for Mike Rushton to have the easy task of taping the ball into an empty net from close range

LANCASTER CITY 1 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0 (3mins)

Despite the early set back Rail set about getting themselves back into the game. Within minutes of the goal a brilliant cross from Phil Mitchell found Dan Thirkell at the far post but his header was just wide of the mark. Lancaster seemed to be relying on catching us out on the break and they nearly added a second when a Lancaster player found himself one on one with Manny. Manny bravely came out and blocked the shot and danger was averted. Moments later an injury to the linesman delayed the match by several minutes as he received treatment by the Lancaster physio. Despite the treatment he couldn’t continue and was replaced by spectator in the crowd who happened to be a vicar. Despite the divine intervention Rail fell further behind to another Mike Rushton goal. Yet another miserable attempt to play offside let him in on goal. Despite Chris Jenkinson’s attempt at getting back at the player and Manny coming out to block him he somehow managed to squeeze the ball through Manny’s arms and into the back of the net.

LANCASTER CITY 2 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0 (36mins)

With a mountain to climb Rail came bravely back at Lancaster with a few long range shots that didn’t test the keeper. However with only 5 minutes to go to half-time Railway had a claim for a penalty. The ball was played into the area and fell to Dan Thirkell but before he had time to shoot he was bundled over by a Lancaster defender. Despite Rail’s appeals the referee played on. Rail had one last chance in the dying seconds as they were awarded a free-kick a few yards away from the penalty box. Up stepped both Liam Gray and Dan Verity but it was the latter who eventually took it and didn’t disappoint as his hard shot found its target but Martin Fearon in goal was equal to it and palmed the ball away for a corner. Moments later the referee blew his whistle after 7 minutes of injury-time.

HALF-TIME: LANCASTER CITY 2 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0

Rail had to make a change at half-time with Tom Jackson coming on for Steve Ball. Phil also decided to change the system playing with 3 at the back and using 3 in the middle with 2 wing backs. Within minutes Rail should have been dead and buried but for another great block by Manny to deny Mike Rushton his hat-trick. Rail were struggling to adjust to the new system and Phil Mitchell was booked as a Lancaster forward advanced towards goal. He was a bit fortunate to not see red and was saved only by the fact there were two or three defenders just to the side of him. Unfortunately the new formation didn’t really change things as Lancaster were looking more and more dangerous as the half wore on.  Rail were awarded a corner kick down on our left and for the first time the ball actually beat the first defender and found Dan Thirkell at the far post with a Lancaster defender both going for the ball. It seemed as though the ball had gone over the defender as Danny rose above him and planted his header into the back of the net. The referee deemed to have seen Dan foul the defender so he disallowed the goal. That I’m afraid has summed our luck up this season. It hasn’t been the first time this season that we have been a couple of goals behind and had a goal disallowed at a vital time. Rail were still pushing forward which left them open to any quick breaks but despite the danger the risk had to be taken. Lancaster then brought on 2 fresh attackers in replace of top scorer Jordan Connerton and Jerome Watt. On another charge forward Phil Mitchell was upended by Jonathan Smith and the referee produced his second card of the afternoon. The final nail in the coffin was Lancaster’s third goal of the afternoon. There was only 3 minutes left of normal time left as a good move by Lancaster set up substitute Mark Jackson one on one with Manny. Despite Manny’s efforts his luck was not in and the ball looped off his body and into the back of the net.

LANCASTER CITY 3 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0 (87mins)

The game was over and done with as the referee added 3 minutes of injury time and then blew his whistle for full-time.

FULL-TIME: LANCASTER CITY 3 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0

BOOKINGS: 2 – Phil Mitchell (Rail) Jonathan Smith (Lancaster)

ATTENDANCE: 181

RAIL MAN OF THE MATCH: LIAM GRAY

PLAYERS MARK OUT OF 10:

James Mann – 7

James Nettleton – 6

Steve Ball – 6

Liam Gray – 7

Dan Verity – 6

Chris Jenkinson – 7

Nicky Darker – 6

Paul Stansfield – 7

Ben Jones – 6

Dan Thirkell – 7

Phil Mitchell – 7

SUB: Tom Jackson - 7