Harrogate Railway ladies were away today at Bradford Park in the league and finally showed what they can do, winning with a comfortable 1-7 result.
Bradford proved to be a tricky team for Railway 2 weeks ago in the cup with rail eventually winning 1-0, this time the railway ladies came out fighting with 4 shots on goal in 5 minutes and one hitting the post on a very very muddy pitch. Bradford were playing a long ball game using their pace up front as the only weapon they had, but rails defence knew this was their only form off attack and snuffed it out throughout the game and turning Bradford with some excellent long passes of there own. Bradford did manage to get the better of Railway on the 25th minute down the left side cutting back in and a great shot into the top left corner, 1-0. Railway didn’t panic and instantly applied the pressure back on which paid off 4 minutes later when Dee Swales let fly a great shot which hit the cross bar, bounced back into the path of Ellie Macleod to score 1-1. On the restart Bradford knocked another long ball to there forward who tried to beat Issy Rowe and failed! Issy then went on a solo run through the middle passed out wide to Dee who the fired in brilliant shot to make it 1-2. Railway were now on fire and kept pilling on the pressure totally controlling the midfield and not letting any attacks get through, on the 43rd minute Jodi Hodgson crossed the ball to Nicola Hadley who in turn volleyed into the top right corner to make it 1-3.
After half time Railway could sense that Bradford were beat and went for the kill, 56 minutes and another corner for Railway, Ali Purvis delivered to the near post where Chloe Elphick tapped the ball in at a very acute angle 1-4. Bradford had no idea on how to stop the attacks as time again railway pushed forward, 63 minutes gone Jenney Hudleston passed out to Ellie who played a wide ball for Dee who crossed into the box where Nicola was waiting to score her second making it 1-5.
The Railway Ladies, for the first time in 6 weeks, were winning the first and second balls, tackling hard and attacking as a complete unit to create many chances, 67 minutes played and Nicola found herself one on one with the keeper, and being on her best performance this season easily beating the keeper to make it 1-6 and getting her hatrick. On the 75th minute Dee was in a great position to receive a long ball from midfield she beat two defenders and bagged her second and Rails 7th goal, 1-7. As the rain poured down the pitch became a mud bath Railway were more than happy to hear the final whistle and collect 3 more points.
A truly great team performance from the railway ladies who now face Keighley at the dagger next sunday 1-30 KO
