Brighouse Town 3 Harrogate Railway Athletic AFC 1
EVO-STIK NPL DIVISION ONE NORTH
By Emily Anderson
An Ernest Bofo hat-trick after an early setback ensured Town recorded their first win of the season.
Manager Paul Quinn commented: "We needed to freshen up after last Monday night's game (with Ossett Town ). We started really well and created bundles of chances and their goal came against the run of play.
"Only downside was we weren't clinical enough and didn't close the game down quick enough.
"It was all very promising and we showed great character and patience to carry on."
Influential midfielder James Hurtley was missing from the squad after straining his intercostal muscle in his side at training which will see him out of action for the next two to three weeks.
It was confirmed that Chris Fisher has received a two match ban after his altercation with the referee last Monday evening and will miss the Scarborough and Burscough games.
Adam Wilson was also out of the squad on Saturday due to a family commitment.
Despite three attempts on the Harrogate Railway goal in the opening five minutes, it was the visitors who opened their account first in the ninth minute with assistance from Roy Fogarty from the right. It was Ryan Sharrocks out on the left of the box who put the ball past Town keeper Paul Hagreen. After this Town quickly re-asserted themselves and took the game to the visitors.
In the 25th minute, Matthew Stor sent in a powerful shot from way out on the left flank, but keeper Thomas Goodwin parried it and Steven Hollingworth fired wide from five yards.
Six minutes later Ernest Boafo was unlucky not to score with a feeder ball from Hollingworth. Boafo then followed up with another attempt a minute later.
Boafo got his goal in the 35th minute after persistance and levelled the scores at 1-1 with a thunderbolt of a shot on the angle from some 12 yards out.
Town were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute when Danny Facey was brought down in the box by Alex Low. Boafo took the spot kick and put Town ahead at 2-1.
It was a great boost for the home side as they headed in at the half time break following a business-like half that also saw defenders Ben Thornton, Stor, Sam Hewitt and Adam Field working hard to close down any threats from the North Yorkshire side. Town started the second half strongly and had two near misses in the first ten minutes, Harrogate Railway did respond but keeper Hagreen stopped any danger.
In the 61st minute Hollingworth was replaced by Leon Henry. Town made another sub in the 70th with Kurt Harris replacing Tom Haigh. Harris got straight to work and a minute after entering the field he put a superb header in toward goal, unfortunately keeper Goodwin just held on to the ball.
Boafo bagged a hat-trick in the 75th minute with a superb quick fire ball on target after Goodwin had spilled the ball following a cross from the right.
Town then brought on James Pollard to replace Martin Allison.
Keeping up the momentum, Town played to the full 90 minutes and then some to bag the win and three valuable points.
Brighouse: Hagreen, Thornton, Stor, Hewitt, Field, Allison, Hall, Haigh, Boafo, Hollingworth, Facey. Subs: Pollard, Henry, Harris, Baldwin , Stead.
Referee: L Watson