Harrogate Railway suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of third placed Glossop North End on Saturday afternoon, but will feel aggrieved their performance didn’t get something from the game.
Lee Ashforth made seven changes from his side’s last run out and handed Harrogate Railway debuts to George Foster, Luca Mellor and Nathan Curtis.
The first big chance of the game fell to Astley Mulholland who had been sent through on goal after a rapid Glossop counter attack, though the winger got his finish all wrong and sent the ball harmlessly over.
With 20 minutes gone, Railway had arguably been the better side with both Lawrance Hunter and Dan Thirkell, making his 30th start of the season, having good shots blocked.
It was The Hillmen, however, that opened the scoring when a long free kick into the box was headed up rather than out and dropped onto the head of 20-goal striker Jamie Rainford who guided his header past Tom Goodwin into the opposite corner.
The contest’s defining moment came in the 68th minute when, while making a desperate attempt to deny a shot at an open goal, Charlie Clamp caught the Glossop man in possession and conceded a spot-kick.
Home Captain David Young made no mistake from 12 yards as he struck the kick low and hard down the middle.
Railway barely had time to come to terms with being two behind as Glossop added another through substitute Benjamin Richardson who tapped in from a couple of yards after Goodwin had parried Rainford’s low shot.
Another four minutes passed before Chris Willcock’s men added a fourth when Mulholland sent a fairly weak strike goal wards that left Railway players flatfooted and rolled into the far corner.
With the result beyond doubt, Ashforth’s men were playing for pride and got themselves a deserved goal with five minutes to go when substitutes Will Peers and Dan Barrett combined, allowing the latter to expertly round Luke Pilling and score.
The afternoon’s scoring didn’t end there though, as three minutes later, some patient build up play from Glossop allowed Mulholland freedom at the back post to tap in his second of the game.
Glossop North End 5-1 Harrogate Railway
Report by Hal Boxhall-Dockree
Photography by Caught Light Photography
