HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 AFC FYLDE 1
The sun came out once again for Rails second home game of the season. Our visitors were hoping to continue their good form after coming off from a convincing 4-0 victory at Woodley Sports.
TEAM NEWS: Rail made one change from their game against Rossendale with Steve Ball coming in for Dan Verity meaning that Luke Richardson making the 4 up in midfield with Paul Stansfield, Dan Thirkell and Will Ryder.
The opening 20 minutes or so were pretty even with Rail being caused one or two scares when our visitors got into our area. At the other end Steve Smith and Ben Jones were keeping AFC Fylde’s defence busy by closing them down and not letting them play their way out. Neither keepers were seriously tested as most of the play was congested in midfield with very little being created. However on one occasion when AFC Fylde tried to get through they were halted by a challenge from behind from Will Ryder. The referee allowed play to go on and once play stopped he produced a yellow card for Will’s second of the season. Things were beginning to open up a little when a good move from AFC Fylde found themselves in the area but as the attacker was about to take his shot our defence did well in closing him down and cleared their lines. At the other end however AFC Fylde’s defenders were not as alert and paid the price. The ball broke loose to Luke Richardson on the wide left. He gathered the ball and made a diagonal run towards goal. The defenders didn’t close him down quick enough and Luke decided to take a shot from 20 yards out. His curving shot found the target into the bottom right-hand corner of the net with the keeper just missing out.
HARROGATE RAILWAY 1 AFC FYLDE 0 (29mins)
A shocked AFC Fylde tried in vain to try and get back into the game but as in Rails last game the defence stood firm. Our visitors were becoming frustrated as they struggled to create anything with Rails midfield closing them down at every opportunity. The game was getting littered with free-kicks and from one such free-kick awarded in Rail’s favour, they increased their lead. There seemed no danger as Steve Robinson took a free-kick on the halfway line. The ball into the area was headed on by Will Ryder to Ben Jones with his back to goal. He held of the defender and turned and hit a powerful shot past the keeper before he had chance to move.
HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 AFC FYLDE 0 (43mins)
There was no chance for our visitors to respond and Rail went in at half-time two goals to the good.
HALF-TIME: HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 AFC FYLDE 0
Early in the 2nd half Rail should have really sewn the game up. A good move found Steve Smith in the area. He beat one defender and then found himself one on one with the keeper. The keeper dived at Steve’s feet before he could get a decent shot in and smothered the ball. Within seconds however AFC Fylde nearly scored as well. Rail’s defence switched off for a moment and the attacker found himself behind our defence. Fortunately for Rail James Mann in goal was alert and did enough to parry the shot away. It wasn’t long however that AFC Fylde found themselves back in the game. A through ball from midfield found Steve Robinson on the wrong side of the attacker and as he went in on goal Robbo brought him down from behind and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Late replacement – Joe Booth stepped up to the penalty spot and confidently placed his kick high to Manny’s right to give Manny no chance.
HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 AFC FYLDE 1 (54mins)
From Rail looking comfortable they now found themselves in a battle. AFC Fylde did most of the pressing from then on and they were unlucky not to draw level as a swift passing move ended in a shot cannoning of Manny’s right hand post on 70 minutes. On came Nathan James for Steve Ball. This meant Luke Richardson dropping back to left back and Nathan playing left midfield. Soon afterwards Luke became the second Rail player into the book as he kicked the ball way after a free-kick was awarded. Try as they did AFC Fylde could not find a way through our dogged defence to try and snatch a point and as the seconds ticked away Rail made 2 more substitutions with Dan Verity and Phil Mitchell replacing Steve Smith and Will Ryder. Nathan James became the third Rail player to be shown a yellow card as he held onto the ball after AFC Fylde was awarded another free-kick. Four minutes of injury time were indicated but Rail held out for another valuable 3 points.
FULL-TIME: HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 AFC FYLDE 1
BOOKINGS: 3 - Ryder, Richardson & James (all Rail)
ATTENDANCE: 128
Rail Man of the Match: LUKE RICHARDSON
PLAYERS MARKS:
Mann – 7
Haigh – 7
Ball – 7
Robinson – 7
Dempsey – 7
Stansfield – 7
Thirkell – 7
Ryder – 7
Jones – 7
Smith. S – 7
Richardson – 8
SUBS: James – 6, Verity/Mitchell – not on long enough
