The Railway Ladies played host to Keighley Ladies in there second league match and came out with a comfortable 5-1 win. Railway certainly looked the better team for the first 17 minutes, passing well and getting behind the Keighley defence, midfielders Rachel McDonald and Jodi Hodgson had a great game forcing some strong tackles and feeding the ball left and right for the wingers to put in some brilliant crosses.
Chloe Elphick opened the scoring on the 12th minute with a well taken strike from just out side the penalty box, and just as Keighley was recovering from that goal, 2 minutes later Dee Swales out on the right let fly with an awesome left foot strike some 22 yards out into the top right corner, 2-0.
It looked like railway were going to cruise to the half time whistle as on the 16th minute a corner from Ali Purvis found the head of Rachel McDonald who was stopped only by the cross bar, but just as the spectators were waiting for the next railway goal it all went wrong, the railway defence just imploded they lost all shape and control and 20 minutes gone Keighley scored a well taken shot, 2-1.
Keighley could smell blood and piled on the pressure with shot after shot Rails keeper Charlotte Donnelly was working hard. The half time whistle came and a much relieved Railway manager had time to sort things out.
The second half started well for the railway girls putting great pressure on Keighley’s defence centre forward Emma Elliote was working hard but the ball just wasn’t laying for her to score as much as she tried, it was Dee who scored next after 61minutes breaking through and with a slight deflection made it 3-1.
Railway were rampant now and 3 minutes later Chloe had a great run down the left, beating 3 defenders and finally slotting the ball under the Keighley goal keeper.
The railway defence was more settled in the second half and managed to keep good shape and control of the ball, back at the other end Railway wanted another this came after 81 minutes, Ali passed a long ball down the right for Nicola Hadley to put it into the path of Jodi who’s shot forced the defender to put a foot out and deflect it hard into the near post, own goal, but Jodi did claim it was hers !!
A very well deserved win today next week the Railway Ladies are away at Brayton Belles in Selby
The Ladies were also very happy to receive and give thanks for their new kit for this season sponsored by Andy at Skipton Street Garage , Harrogate.
Photographs by www.caughtlight.com
