Railway taught lesson by league leaders

Harrogate Railway Athletic suffered a 4-0 home defeat to NCEL Premier Division leaders Cleethorpes Town, on Saturday.
Paul Beesley looks for a way through the Cleethorpes Town defence. Picture: Caught Light PhotographyPaul Beesley looks for a way through the Cleethorpes Town defence. Picture: Caught Light Photography
Paul Beesley looks for a way through the Cleethorpes Town defence. Picture: Caught Light Photography

The encounter was not as one-sided as the scoreline may suggest, with Paul Beesley’s side enjoying the better of the first half, but the title favourites’ slick passing game was to prove just too much for their hosts to contend with after the interval.

Home goalkeeper Ben Ledger was a virtual spectator during the opening 45 minutes, while at the other end, Dan Barrett, Jordan Hendrie, Lewis Riley and player-boss Beesley looked a threat and caused Town problems.

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However, with just seconds of the first period remaining, a long punt forward was flicked on by Marc Cooper and caught out the Railway back four, the ball bouncing kindly for Liam Davis to finish past Ledger for a 1-0 lead.

Cleethorpes clicked into gear in the second half, Jonathan Oglesby doubling the lead 12 minutes after the resumption with a fine strike that put the away team in full control.

A quick-fire brace from Brody Robertson then added a gloss to the scoreline as the division’s form side extended their impressive unbeaten run to 16 matches.

Rail did threaten in the closing stages, with Fraser Hansen impressing once again and coming close on a couple of occasions, but it was not to be for the Locomotives, who slip one place in the league standings to 18th following Maltby Main’s victory over Barton Town.

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