Harrogate railway Ladies played host to Farsley Celtic today in the semi final league cup and coming out 7-2 winners.
The Railway Ladies were in good form right from the start putting instant pressure on the Farsley defence causing the keeper to make some good early saves; it only took 12 minutes though when ( player off the match) Lauren Taylor received from a throw and passed to Hannah Campbell who opened the scoring1-0.
Farsley took this well and went about correcting things by passing wide then down the middle and catching Rails defence napping just 2 minutes after the re-start and scoring the equalizer, 1-1.
The first half saw Railway control most of the game with Farsley only having 5 shots at goal and Railway winning 6 corners and numerous shots but unable to make them count. Rails Ellie Macleod had a storming game in midfield winning ball after ball and feeding out wide to the flanks and on the 40th minute Ellie put a 30yrd pass through the Farsley defence for Hannah to run through and on her first touch slot the ball home, 2-1.
Railway were well in control now and 2 minutes later four well executed passes in the penalty box allowed Sandra Clarke to tap in at the back post to make it 3-1 at half time.
The pitch was starting to get very heavy and slippy but this did not deter Farsley as they came at Railway with a real sense of purpose and it paid of on 48 minutes with a strong shot from out side the box Rails keeper couldn’t hold on and the loose ball was taped in to make it 3-2.
The re start saw railway passing the ball about confidently looking for a way forward when Issy Rowe took a long run with the ball, passing 3 players and then picking out Hannah Campbell with a great pass who then went on to beat the Farsley keeper again, 4-2.
Railway were flying and after 56 minutes went 5-2 up after a corner was cleared by Farsley, but only as far as Issy Rowe, who drove the ball into the net from 22yrds out. Farsley did not give up but the shear determination of the railway girls showed as they pushed for more goals and on the 67th minute Nicola Hadley stormed down the right for 45yrds put in a brilliant cross for Hannah to bag her 4th and make it 6-2.
The game played out in the wet and cold weather and when another strike went at the Farsley keeper who saved well but couldn’t hold on to the wet ball Jodie Hodgson steped in to make it 7-2.
By far a better performance from the Railway ladies as a whole and this win puts them into the last 4 of the league cup; next week they find themselves at home against Tingley, the only team to beat them in the league this season, KO 1-30 at Station View.
The Railway Ladies are currently looking for new players for next season any one interested can contact Simon on 07740591697 any time.
