Harrogate Railway Ladies today created a small bit of history by reaching the third round of the county cup for the first time in 9 years beating Silsden Ladies 0-1.
Railway went into this game on the back of their first win this season and confidence was high, starting brightly Railway soon had Silsden on the back foot with Jade Holt in midfield have a great game by winning tackle after tackle and then feeding the ball out to the sides. 14 minutes gone and Louise Donnelly crossed into the path of Nicola Hadley who got one on one with the keeper, she took the ball to the right but the angle became too tight and her shot went across goal hitting the far post and then cleared by the defender.
Silsden suddenly came to life and after 22 minutes found a way through Rails back line only to be stopped by Charllote (rocky) Donnelly coming of her line to make a top draw save. For the main Railway dominated the first half and with the back four in top form Silsden didn’t really have many chances on goal, by half time Railway should have been one or two up, but missing their chances came in 0-0 at the break.
After the break, Railway stepped up the tempo having two shots on goal, which were kept out by some great saves from the Silsden keeper, in the first 4 minutes then, after 51 minutes, Jade chipped the ball over the defensive line and Louise finally beat the offside trap, put pressure on the defender who was facing her own goal, won the ball and slotted under the keeper,0-1.
Silsden didn’t give up and really started to put on their own pressure and for the last 20 minutes Railway spent most of the time defending wave after wave of attacks.
It was a nervy ending to the match for the Railway managers but all done and another clean sheet and a second win which puts the team in great spirits for next week’s big game away to Cleethorpes town Ladies who are currently above Railway with three points more and a worse goal difference, so a chance for the red and greens to get off the bottom of the table with a win.
