Harrogate Railway Ladies played host to Brighouse Town today in the county cup and were shown what it would be like to play in the premiere league. From the start Brighouse looked like they meant business with 3 attackers, 4 midfielders and 3 in the back line plus a keeper it took only 45 seconds for them to score, as they first attacked it was a bad call from Railways keeper that caused confusion and a soft goal ensued, 0-1.
Railway were poll axed from this and it took only another 14 minutes before Brighouse scored again to make it 0-2 and less than a minute later made it 0-3.
Railway were really in a bad shape with missed tackles and wayward passes Brighouse found it easy to keep the pressure on and if it wasn’t for the uprights stopping 2 shots and a dodgy offside call by the referee it could easily have been 5 or 6 nil at half time.
After the half time break Railway settled things down and started to show what they are capable of creating some good passing and holding a good shape at the back and in mid field. As the half went on Brighouse started to get frustrated as each attack was shut down and more importantly chances started to come railways way.
It was the 77th minute when Nicola Hadley finally had a clear chance with a great pass from mid field she beat the last defender and lifted the ball sweetly over the keeper to make it 1-3. Railway were going from strength to strength and with only 5 minutes to go Ali Purvis crossed in from a corner where Nicola beat every one else to head just over the bar.
This was a game that was expected to go Brighouse’s way but if the Railway Ladies had played in the first half like the second a different result may well have ensued. Next week the ladies are away in the league against Handsworth Ladies.
Report by Simon Mercer, Photography by Caught Light Photography
