Harrogate Railway substitutes inspire sensational second-half fightback against Armthorpe Welfare

The men from Station View looked to dead and buried in Saturday’s NCEL Division One contest when they headed into the interval trailing 3-0.

But, having made three changes at the break and another one early in the second period, Youhill was rewarded with a dominant 45 minutes, which saw the game turned on its head.

Goals from substitutes Alex Burton and Alex Ingham, plus one from starting centre-forward James Eyles got Railway back on terms, before Burton struck again to decide matters late on.

"We weren’t good in the first half,” Youhill said. “They were three up at half-time, but it could have been five or six, and after about half an hour we were looking at how we would change it at half-time.

"We made wholesale changes, big changes. And, the players who came on did an unbelievable job. We were first to everything and it felt like we had five or six more men than Armthorpe.

"We struggled in the first half because we played our normal 4-3-3, and they played a 5-3-2. We essentially just matched them up in the second half, which was much easier for us.

"Big Al [Ingham] didn’t come at half-time, but when he did he made a difference straight away and set up the first goal. Burts [Burton] holds the ball up really well, and then we started putting balls in the box.

"So, changing the system really helped, but the lads who came on made a huge difference. Big Al has played the least minutes of everyone, but for me, was man of the match.” Joel Learmouth struck with just six minutes on the clock to hand Armthorpe the lead, with goals in quick succession just after the half-hour mark from Alfie Charlotte and Jamie Simpson putting them in full control.

But, Burton got Railway back in the game in the 55th minute following good work by Ingham and Ben Parkes in the build up.

Ingham then collected a long ball and ran past a couple of defenders before beating Adam Hewitson at his near post for 3-2 on 70 minutes.

The scores were levelled barely 60 seconds later when Burton’s ball into the box wasn’t dealt with properly, and Eyles was able to smash home.

The Rail then got their noses in front late on thanks to Burton, who slotted home after Eyles had diverted first-half substitute Joe Navier’s cross into his path.

Victory leaves Railway fourth in the table, but with games in hand on both of the sides directly above them.

Next up is a home showdown with rock-bottom Glasshougton Welfare on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).