Harrogate Railway 2-4 Glossop North End: Teenagers on target but Railway fall short

Harry Brown put the hosts ahead with a terrific solo effort, before two goals in three minutes from David Young and Ashley Stott turned the tie on its head.

Railway grabbed an equaliser through on-loan midfielder Rob Worrall, however, a quick-fire double from Glossop duo Stott and Edward Moran sent the visitors to the league’s summit.

Railway boss Lee Ashforth said: “It was always going to be a difficult test but we got our noses in front in the first half.

“Unfortunately we conceded two quick goals in the second half which makes it difficult again.

“We got ourselves back into the game and possibly should have had a penalty, then a couple of individual errors have cost us.”

Ashforth made five changes from Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Ossett Albion and handed a first start of the season to Dan Barrett in a three- man attack.

The contest started at a blistering pace as both sides looked menacing going forward with Tom Goodwin keeping out Kieran Lugsden’s shot at his near post and Barrett sending an audacious lob narrowly over the bar.

Goodwin again denied Lugsden at his near post in an almost carbon copy of the earlier save, before Glossop spurned the best chance of the half when David Young failed to make enough contact at the back post.

Glossop continued to look dangerous from set pieces and almost took the lead when Goodwin’s punched corner clearance was directed back towards goal only for Simon Parkes to clear off the line.

Railway were in need of some inspiration, and that was provided by Harry Brown in the 38th minute.

The 18-year-old, making only his second start for Railway, picked the ball up in an advanced left position before accelerating past his marker and sending a fierce left-footed drive in off the far post to give Railway a 1-0 lead.

Ashforth’s men had a good chance to double their advantage three minutes later when Parkes got to the by-line and pulled the ball back in the direction of Dhesi, although the attacker hit his shot just wide.

The game changed in the 56th minute when Glossop were awarded a penalty after Astley Mullholland got the wrong side of Jack Stockdill and was brought down by the midfielder.

The newly promoted side’s captain Young blasted the ball into the bottom right corner to level the scores, and it was only a matter of minutes before the turnaround was completed.

Just three minutes later, Smart’s powerful shot from the left was saved by Goodwin, but second half substitute Ashley Stott was the quickest to react and put the ball into an empty net.

The goals seemed to make the encounter that little bit feistier with the referee showing a number of yellow cards.

Just minutes after Railway skipper Dan Thirkell had completed the second goal line clearance of the evening, the hosts found an equaliser.

Dhesi clipped a ball over the Glossop defence for substitute Worrall to latch on to and, although Glossop keeper Gregory Hall looked favourite to reach the ball first, he hesitated and allowed Worrall to nip past and level the score.

Glossop then sealed the win with two goals in the space of a minute.

The first came when Stott made enough contact with a deep free kick delivery from the left wing to divert through Goodwin’s hands.

Glossop’s fourth followed shortly after as Railway conceded possession in a dangerous area allowed Moran in to find a finish.