NORTH BEATS SOUTH AS RAIL PROGRESS INTO THE 2nd ROUND OF THE UNIBOND LEAGUE CUP
BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 3
With Rail again down to the bare bones with a squad of 12 it was again going to be a tough task to overcome our Unibond South neighbours – Brigg Town
TEAM NEWS: With Andy Wright absent and Will Ryder injured Phil Sharpe brought in Reserve player Craig Ramplin and the experienced Chris Clarke to replace them.
Rail started the game on the front foot with some crisp passing. Every player looked up for the game and our hosts were really struggling to get out of their own half. Although Rail had the lion’s share of possession some resolute defending denied Rail any sort of clear cut chance. Brigg’s only answer to Rail’s bright start was to launch the ball long into our half. This didn’t really pay any dividends as Dan Husband and Chris Clarke dealt with anything that came their way quite comfortably. When Brigg did manage to get into our half it was usually down the wings with Dan Thirkell and Ryan Haigh kept busy. They did manage to give Rail one or two scares but they were only half chances and James Mann was only called into action on a couple of occasions saving comfortably each time. Rail were also only creating half chances with one Paul Stansfield shot blocked and a run in on goal by Craig Ramplin put into the side netting. The first half ended with neither side finding the net.
HALF-TIME: BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 0
Rail started the second half as the same in the first but this time there seemed to be more purpose about their attacks. Phil Mitchell and Steve Smith were pushed a little further up front and this seemed to have the desired effect. The ball was played into Steve Smith’s feet as he sweetly turned his marker. His shot on the turn was only a whisker away past the far post. Minutes later Rail took a deserved lead. From a corner the ball was only partially cleared out of defence and it fell to the feet of Paul Stansfield. He controlled it and hit a shot towards goal. It took a deflection off the defenders boot and looped over the keeper and into the net.
BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 1 (52mins)
Moments later Brigg made a substitution. This didn’t stop the flow and again Brigg were finding it difficult to get out of their own half. They had the occasional attack but Manny and our defence were in fine form again and didn’t really give them any clear cut chances. On the hour mark Rail doubled their lead and what a way to mark your debut. A flick on by Phil Mitchell just past the half way line was met on the volley 25 yards out by Craig Ramplin as the ball flew into the top of the net with the keeper rooted to the spot. Contender for ‘Goal of the Season’ already. The celebrations by the Rail players afterwards really summed up the quality of the goal.
BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 2 (60mins)
Within minutes of the second goal Brigg made 2 more substitutions but to little effect. There attacks were having no joy and even when they managed to break through Manny was in fine form again and managed to save well down to his right and palm the ball away to safety. Rail were passing the ball around well and were creating more chances. With a little more composure the game would have well and truly been over well before we scored our third and final goal. There was a little bit of good fortune about it but not for the Brigg Town keeper. Moments earlier the keeper was put under pressure from a corner and in trying to tip the ball over the crossbar he managed to badly dislocate his finger. As Brigg had already used up their 3 substitutions an outfield player had to replace him. Moments later he was picking the ball out of the net. Rail were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area. Up stepped Craig Smith to place a low shot wide of the wall. The stand-in keeper managed to get his hands to it but only helped it into the back of the net.
BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 3 (86mins)
With the game over and done with Jordan Yorath came on to replace Ben Jones. The referee indicated 4 minutes of injury time and with that time; time had run out for Brigg Town as the final whistle went.
FULL-TIME: BRIGG TOWN 0 HARROGATE RAILWAY 3
BOOKINGS: NONE
ATTENDANCE: 69
RAIL MEN OF THE MATCH: STEVE SMITH/PHIL MITCHELL
PLAYERS MARKS:
James Mann – 7
Dan Thirkell – 7
Ryan Haigh – 7
Craig Smith – 8
Chris Clarke – 7
Dan Husband – 7
Craig Ramplin – 8
Paul Stansfield – 7
Ben Jones – 7
Steve Smith – 8
Phil Mitchell – 8
SUB: Jordan Yorath – not on long enough
