Bridge claim Semi Final Place at a Heavy Cost

19/01/08 – Whitworth Cup Quarter Final

Harrogate Railway Athletic 3, Boroughbridge AFC 4

Bridge held on to claim a fully deserved win against their higher ranked neighbours which keeps alive hopes of a successful defence of the Whitworth Cup. On a sunny afternoon, with a pitch that was playable but extremely heavy, both teams attempted good football throughout and served up a treat for spectators. Manager Daz Ekin gambled on the fitness of Steve Tovey with Mark Tyson still out injured, but  with the game barely 8 minutes old, was forced to bring on Ben Mudd as Tovey left the field nursing a tight hamstring.

Once the game settled, Man of the Match Paul Eagling continued his recent form by breaking free of his markers, placing a crisp shot to the right of Hazlett in the Railway goal to give Bridge an early lead. The lead was to last only 11 minutes though, as Railway cut the ball back from the bye line to give a clear strike on goal for the equaliser. Almost immediately, Baz O’Neill produced a rasping shot across goal from the edge of the area, the ball rising just above and wide of the right hand post. A period of effective Bridge possession followed which meant that as half time approached the game looked to be slipping from Railway, a defensive mix up on 31 minutes allowing Ben Darville to confuse Tom Hesketh and Brendon Hazlett for 2-1. Whilst there was some doubt as to who actually got the final touch, there was no doubt on 41 minutes as Paul Eagling again was the most composed man on the pitch to calmly place his shot to allow Bridge to head into the break with a 3-1 lead.

There was no let up after the break in either the commitment or the excitement, with ex Bridge man Byron Littlefair putting a shot wide of Alistair Hogg’s right post from around 22 yards, followed almost immediately by another shot by Paul Eagling, this time going wide to the left.

On 55 minutes, with the pitch beginning to cut up, captain Paul Vincent went in to a crunching 50/50 tackle with Harris, Vincent remaining grounded as play continued. It was soon apparent that the injury was  serious, and Vincent was taken to the side of the pitch after a lengthy break in play, eventually being stretchered off and taken to hospital for further treatment on what looks to be a very serious injury indeed.

There was no let up in intensity though, Hogg diving bravely at the feet  of yet another ex Bridge man Giuseppe Downing to deny a good scoring opportunity,  and watching calmly as the ball went to the left of the post from Railway substitute Lee Harris. O’Neill latched onto a Ben Mudd cross but put his shot over as play swung from end to end, but Railway hauled themselves back into the game on 71minutes, Littlefair crossing from the right, Downing heading back into the area from the left for Clayton to plant a firm header past the helpless Hogg.

At this point Railway began to look as though they could go on to steal what at one point seemed an unlikely win, but in another twist, only enjoyed the ascendency for four minutes until Bridge hit a fourth. Chris Chapman tackled tenaciously on the right touchline, beating Youhill before playing the ball forward to Eagling. He responded with a perfect cross, met by Chris Stephenson whose shot was blocked by Hazlett, the ball falling to Baz O’Neill who was able to drill the ball home from the left edge of the six yard box. O’Neill almost bagged his brace two minutes later when Eagling slipped the ball through as he raced clear on the right, but his shot agonisingly was just wide and hit the side netting. At this stage, Bridge looked to have finally despatched their hosts. Not in this game though, as there was destined to be one more twist. Littlefair reduced the deficit to a  single goal with a crisp strike from the edge of the six yard box following a slip by Mudd. That proved to be Railway’s last decent goal attempt though, and Bridge were able to count down the clock including six added minutes, as the home team couldn’t find the spark they needed to force extra time. Railway’s hopes were further knocked by having to play out time with 10 men, Simon Parkes being forced to leave the field with an injury, all three substitutes having been used.

The final whistle was welcomed by everyone in Blue, but ultimately Railway failed to use their supposed technical superiority and at times looked one dimensional, playing the same balls time after time. Hogg in the Bridge goal showed no signs of his indifferent form of recent weeks, was decisive and commanding, and could not be blamed for any of the goals conceded. Bridge’s weaknesses seemed to lay in defence with Tyson, Tovey and Vincent all injured, but Andy Layton played imperiously to hold things together, and up front, Paul Eagling finally found his scoring boots to double his season’s tally. The wide play was excellent and the newer additions to the first team such as Danny Webster and Lewis Whittaker fought for the full 90 minutes.

Daz Ekin was unsurprisingly suffering mixed emotions after the game, knowing that his “holy grail” is still very much within his grasp, but facing the long term loss of his inspirational captain, Paul Vincent

Man of the Match – Paul Eagling

Harrogate Railway Athletic – Hazlett, Watson, Parkes, King, Clayton, Hesketh, Lewis, Youhill, Kirk, Downing, Littlefair. Subs – Riley, Rimmer, Harris, Lee Harding.

Goal Scorers - ?? 26, Clayton 71, Littlefair 83

Boroughbridge AFC – Hogg, Tovey, Coghlin, Vincent, Layton, Stephenson, Webster, Whittaker, O’Neill, Eagling, Darville. Subs – Chapman, Bone, Mudd

Goal Scorers – Eagling 15 & 41, Darville 31, O’Neill 75