At last Harrogate Railway Ladies got underway in the West Riding Ladies Premier League today (14 Sept 2014) at home to Brighouse Ladies, a bright start from the railway ladies in the first 5 minutes creating two good chances and forcing some good saves from the Brighouse keeper, this stirred Brighouse, who finished second in the league last year, into life and with three forward passes and a lack of concentration in the railway midfield Brighouse went straight down the middle and slotted the ball just under Charlotte Donnelly to go one up, 0-1.
Railway pressed on and yet again created some good chances but just couldn’t capitalise on them, midfielders Rachel Mcdonald, Jodi Hodgson both worked hard feeding out to Louise Donnelly on the left and Nicola Hadley on the right, but when the crosses went in Rails forwards struggled to hit the target. Brighouse were getting more and more confident and yet another counter break on 17 minutes caught the railway back line off guard and a brilliant strike from 16yfds out just beat the out stretched hand of rails keeper to make it 0-2.
Railway were a bit rocky after the re start and it took only 3 minutes before Brighouse hit the cross bar, and the pressure stayed on Railway for the next 20 minutes or so, eventually Railway managed to put together some good passing and forced play into the other half when the break came it was well received by the Railway management, 0-2.
After a good chat! The Railway ladies came out with two changes, Dee Swales for Rachel Dorkings and Chloe Elphick for Louise Donnelly, this had an immediate impact with Brighouse being pinned in their own half from the start and on the 60th minute Skipper Ali Purvis played a pass into the right corner for Emma Elliote who beat two defenders and crossed the ball in where at the back post Nicola Hadley managed to poke the ball (and her self) over the line, 1-2.
For the next 20 minutes Railway were ruthless in the pursuit of an equalizer forcing corners and shots at goal and Brighouse were throwing everything in front of the ball and railway just couldn’t break them down, great defending. With 6 minutes to go a cross went into the box from Dee Swales and in the chaos a huge shout went up for hand ball in the box from Railway, even Brighouse were surprised when it wasn’t given and also a goal kick was awarded instead of the corner from the same incident. This proved that Railway was not to take any points from today but a draw would certainly have been a fair result. Unlucky? Yes but if you create chances and don’t take them well you just have to buckle down and take them in the next game.
Player of the match was left back Emma Lansdall for her hard work and great determination.
Next game is away at New comers to the league Wortley
