A Game of cards

Todays journey is across the border of Lancashire and into Yorkshire to Station View, home of Harrogate Railway. The ground as been host to recent FA Cup success in reaching the second round in 2002 & 2007. No match of the day cameras will be at the game today. The day is surprisingly sunny and mild but it is obvious the pitch, even with its slant as been subjected to some serious downpours of late. Once the teams have shaken hands it is time to get underway with Harrogate looking for revenge on last weeks result at Stainton Park. Martyn Forrest lines up in a defensive role and all will be glad to see his return as Lee Unsworth and Mike Flynn are missing for the day. Owen Roberts returns on the left. The first action results in a corner for the rail who waste the chance and the ball is cleared well even with two pound of mud attached to each defenders boots. Roberts , Forrest and Mark Jones show the ball can still be passed well and do so with confidence. Mark Jones is unlucky not to win the tackle and Athletics Scott Ryan takes it up he sends the ball into the box with pace , it beats the defender and the diving header of Steve Smith. Second corner of the game to Harrogate and again its defended well the ball falls for the attacking side , the shot is well blocked. Early pressure from the home side is relieved by a great ball from his own half by Steve Howson to Chappell who gets bogged down but managers to play in Owen Roberts is route is cut out by the recovering Ryan. Howson defending in his own box makes good contact with the ball only to see it loop over Priestley and into the net, luckily the assistant flags off. Dawson and Kelly go under scrutiny as Rail feed in some good crosses, the defensive duo pass the test. Ryan and Smith are lively for the home side who have had the better start. Boro look to change that when Howson holds and sets up Connell to bring Sampson in from the flank he skins his opponent to send in a great ball back to Connell who well placed fires over , a promising piece of football. Kelly uses great feet to find space in his own half but his pass doesn't match his footwork and the break ends. The rail captain Riley climbs all over Fitzpatrick at the edge of the D . The fouled forward picks himself up to take the kick and narrowly sends a curling left footer just wide. Priestley hesitates and just manages to clear uncomfortably just outside his box, the ball lands for Craig Smith who scuffs a shot, Ben Jones picks up and brings a good recovery save from Priestley, although throughout the start of this campaign Phil as had a few howlers his shot stopping as been magnificent when called upon. As the half hour approaches Boro show some great neat passing in front of the dugouts, Mark Jones chests the ball under pressure and sets up neat simple passing that Rail can only watch, the ball stalls in the mud and the final ball is not found.

Enter Mr Hart of Darlington, i often give referees and assistants a miss in match reports as i believe it is about the 22 on the park, Mr Hart clearly believed he should have the limelight today. After Ryder is slightly late on Owen Roberts , his first tackle on a very difficult surface , he is booked. The yellow card stays out in the cold for the rest of the game as he chooses to show it at every tap, niggle , barge and chat the players deliver. His assistance on the dugout side joins in throughout the game with real pettiness and as a pop at Ronnie Evans for giving tape to Stevie Howson! The game from then on is peppered with dubious and illogical decisions. I am confident a report will be on the table. Lets hope the joker in the pack of cards reads it.

Boro believe they have took the lead when after a scramble in the box the ball is poked over the line by Howson with the ball clearly in the back of the net ,the lino seeing Fitzpatrick celebrate by kicking the ball in to the net further gives offside. Fitzpatrick is fuming and although rightly, needs to curb his response , he is booked. A player of Fitzys calibre needs to be with us all season and not on the suspension list. Dawson is next in the book as the ref will need to sharpen his pencil at half time. Howson is set free and pushes the ball passed the keeper in the box , the keeper takes down the striker but does get a touch of the ball to send for a corner. The ball is cleared long from the corner and Boro hold the ball well at the back and build patiently, Dawson waits for the gap and delivers a great ball for Sampson to take up and charge the rail defence with a determined run , his pass finds Connell who's shot is blocked well. Mark Jones picks up and his shot is charged down , Rail counter Boro frantically close down in midfield , Boro spend the last five keeping the hosts out of the last third and restrict them to a wide header from a corner. Tired legs will welcome a break, the half ends 0-0.

No changes and Boro make a good start with Kelly finding Connell well on the edge , he doesnt make up his mind and the chance to bring others into play is lost. Mark Jones finds space and runs at the back four, Craig Smith catches him and yes, he is booked. Two penalty claims are waved away , the first after Howson and Chappell link well in the corner as the ball comes in the defender handles , the ref looks away. Some scrappy play in the boro box with Chappell clearing up suggests a push , ref looks away. Connell and Sampson link well and force a wasted corner. Rail play quickly and are capable of breaking fast, Chappell is unlucky not to break up the attack Jones & Smith look dangerous ,Kelly clears for corner.

The referee gets involved to split up Thirkell and Chappell as they draw handbags. 56 minutes gone and rail produce a great move Steve Smith sprints down the flank and beats Roberts easily to send in a fine cross that is met on the run by Ben Jones to nod past the Boro keeper. Boro respond and force a corner that is cleared too easily, Rail come again as Smith sends a great ball into substitute Henry his cross beats Priestley and reaches Thirkell who gets a foot to it, Priestley matches him and produces a timely block. Within 5 minutes the Boro are level, Howson peeling off the defenders shoulder gets to the ball first and flicks the ball into the path of Fitzpatrick who lifts the ball over the advancing keeper, 1-1. Priestley pulls off two good saves to deny rail taking the lead one with the hands and the other with the feet. Mark Jones is trying to unlock and uses Fizpatrick who delays and trys to beat the defender twice when the simple ball would have been more effective, it finds its way back to Jones who plays Chappell in who goes for placement , the effort goes wide. Boro change Howson for Roscoe on 75 he goes straight into action and releases a shot with options available. Henry is on the edge of the Boro box and looks to shoot but Chappell surprises him and wins the ball well, Chappells recent performances have been a breath of fresh air with a combination of hard graft and guile. Rail combine some good passing along the advancing line Henry to Ball and one more out to Jones , his shot hits the post after a good save again by Priestley , Ball is waiting and converts to make it 2-1, Boro scream for the offside but don't get it , Roberts continues the argument by kicking the ball away, Mr Hart is bored with the colour yellow and gives a straight red. The suspension will hurt Boro. Boro look for the equaliser but fail to penetrate. and are not convincing in front of goal with chances available but not took. The game runs out with a series of substitutions and Rail holding for time in the corners. The last action is..... a booking for Ball, i could not see why. Forrest was taken off on 85 after a good workmanlike run out. The squad will be stronger with him back. It now as to be the responsibility of players to keep their heads when decisions go against them and keep the squad together.

Chinese writing is easier to understand than the decisions made by officials today.

A frustrating defeat.

see you in the North East