OSSETT ALBION 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 1

TEAM NEWS: Rail made a couple of changes from the side that started against Trafford at the weekend. With Chris Jenkinson absent through work commitments and Andy Jackson on the bench in their places came Kevin Ryan to partner Aaron Hollingdrake up front and Chris Jenkinson coming in to partner Dan Verity in the centre of defence.

With Rail coming off a 4 match unbeaten run they set about Ossett Albion determined to put the record straight after 6 consecutive league games against our opponents without a victory. Ossett unfortunately are going through a bad patch at the moment and it did show in the first 20 minutes as Rail dominated play and should really have been out of sight. Nicky Darker’s long  throw-ins were causing our hosts all sorts of problems as they struggled to get out of their own half. Rail were quicker to the ball and despite their domination they could only convert one of their chances in the first half. It came early on with the busy Aaron Hollingdrake threading a lovely through ball to his strike partner Kevin Ryan. Kevin took the ball in his stride and slotted the ball low past the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

OSSETT ALBION 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 1 (4mins)

With Ossett on the back foot Rail pressed forward to take advantage of Ossett’s poor start and really should have had a second 10 minutes after their opener. Another long throw from Nicky Darker sailed into the penalty area and dropped just around the six yard box. Someone managed to get a toe to it and poke the ball goal wards and past the keeper. Thankfully for Ossett there was someone on the goal line to clear the ball from danger. Although Ossett came back into the game as the game wore on they didn’t carry any goal threat and Manny was virtually unemployed for the remainder of the half. Despite Rail’s having shed loads of possession they didn’t really make it count and the half finished with Rail leading by their early goal.

HALF-TIME: OSSETT ALBION 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 1

The second half started with Ossett being in a more determined mood and Rail were finding it a little harder than the first to get any decent possession. Both teams seemed happy to launch the ball forward at the earliest opportunity which didn’t make for pretty viewing for the spectators. To be honest the first 15 minutes there was little action at either goalmouth as both sides struggled to create any real chances as the game was littered with silly free-kicks. The first real threat on Rail’s goal came from ex-Rail player Luke Richardson. A free kick was awarded to Ossett on the half way line and there didn’t really seem to be any danger. Up stepped Luke and launched a long range shot that had Manny back pedalling and having to claw the ball away for a corner. It wasn’t until midway through the second half when Rail started to create any chances and it seemed to coincide with the substitution of Andy Jackson coming on for the not so well Kevin Ryan. Within a space of 10 minutes Rail should really have finished the game off as first Aaron Hollingdrake found himself in space as the keeper did well to keep his shot out. Next within minutes Paul Stansfield drove into the area only to see his well struck shot deflected away for a corner and the unlucky Ben Jones seeing his brilliant turn and overhead shot tipped onto the crossbar by the keeper. With only a one nil lead Ossett were still in the game so any slip up would have cost Rail all three points. With Aaron Hollingdrake also under the weather Phil Sharpe decided to bring him off in the last 10 minutes and bring Steve Palfrey on in his place. Ossett pressed forward but couldn’t find a way through Rail’s resolute defence. There was only one scare to mention as yet another soft free-kick was awarded to Ossett just a few yards outside  the penalty area. The wall didn’t really do its job but Manny was alert to it and did well to palm it away for a corner. With only minutes to go a bit of a wild challenge by Scott Driscoll on the half-way line earned himself a yellow card. The referee indicated 3 minutes injury time which seem to fly by as Rail held out for their first away win of the season.

FULL-TIME: OSSETT ALBION 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 1

BOOKINGS: 1 – SCOTT DRISCOLL (Rail)

ATTENDANCE:  94

RAIL MAN OF THE MATCH: NICKY DARKER

PLAYERS MARK OUT OF 10:

James Mann – 7

Dan Thirkell – 7

Tom Jackson – 7

Nicky Darker – 8

Dan Verity – 7

James Nettleton – 7

Aaron Hollingdrake – 7

Paul Stansfield – 7

Ben Jones – 7

Kevin Ryan – 7

Scott Driscoll – 7

SUBS: Andy Jackson – 7, Steve Palfrey – not on long enough