Gift Aid Well Received at Station View.

Rainworth’s game at Harrogate Railway had been rescheduled from the Christmas festive period, but Rainworth still brought gifts!

In fact, after only 27 minutes they had managed to distribute four, it beggared belief in a game were defending seemed secondary to Rainworth. At the other end, their attacking prowess had been quite the opposite, as many chances as the opposition but ‘toothless’ finishing.

In the opening exchanges both sides struggled to put together anything meaningful together. That was until the 9th minute a break down the right and cross reached the head of Mendes Dionisio, there seemed no danger but it evaded Ben Townsend’s grasp and ended in the back of the net.

Rainworth almost equalised in the 8th minute when Max Pemberton’s header from Jack Waddle’s corner hit the crossbar with James Webster well beaten.

They probably should have equalised on 11 minutes when a great break by Liam Royles found Sam Bebbington but his effort lacked power.

If the first goal had a ‘Keystone Cops’ feel to it, the second surpassed it when in the 12th minute with little danger the defender under-hit his pass to Townsend, and with him stranded in no-man’s land, Jason Price had the easiest of tasks to put the ball into the net.

Rainworth continued to threaten the Harrogate goal with Bebbington’s effort from distance going wide and Nathan Modest’s goal-bound effort deflected for a corner. Minutes later Brayan Dakouri’s header from Royles cross went wide.

Whilst at one end Rainworth were unable to turn chances into goals, the same wasn’t evident at the other.

When Harrogate were awarded a free-kick in the 23rd minute Rainworth left Dionisio unmarked and when the ball reached him he needed no second invitation to head it past Townsend.

On 27 minutes, the show was all but over when Price received the ball in what appeared a suspiciously off-side position and although Townsend managed to block his effort, Nathan James was on hand to drive home the rebound.

Minutes later Royles was unlucky when his goal-bound effort was deflected for a corner.

The half-time score of 4-0 didn’t reflect a half in which Rainworth had an equal share of possession and territory but not the main currency, goals.

Rainworth brought on James Munson for Dakouri at half-time and a minute later Webster had to turn the ball around the post under pressure from Bebbington, whilst on 49 minutes Munson had his effort blocked.

During the opening period of the second-half, it was all Rainworth and they should probably have done better when after an excellent passage of play in the 57th minute lacked a finish.

The first Harrogate effort of the half came in the 67th minute when Jordan Hendrie hit his long-range effort well wide.

A minute later and Rainworth were unlucky not to score when Royles effort came back off the upright.

On 70 minutes Rainworth brought on Jordan Claxton for Bebbington.

When Royles cross was intercepted by a defender in the 74th minute fortune favoured Harrogate as the ball cannoned off the upright and out of danger.

Rainworth made their final substitution bringing on Kieran Barnes for Rob Ludlam.

In the space of two minutes both sides missed ‘sitters’ when firstly Hendrie put his effort the wrong side of the post from close range and then Pemberton also put his header the wrong side of the post with the goal at his mercy.

In the 83rd minute Danny Booth who had covered every blade of grass, was shown a yellow card for a tackle that others had got away unpunished previously.

A minute later Royles hit his effort straight at the keeper.

Rainworth eventually breached the Harrogate goal in the final minute when Modest beat a couple of players and gave Jack Waddle the easiest of tasks to side-foot home.

With seconds remaining Royles long range effort was tipped around the post by Webster.

Whilst at the final whistle Rainworth might wonder how they lost the game they only had to look at their defending in the opening quarter of the match and their woeful conversion of chances during the game.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Townsend; Wilson; N. Smith; Booth; Ludlam (Barnes); Pemberton; Royles; Waddle; Dakouri (Munson); Modest; Bebbington (Claxton).

Sub (not used): Francis.

Referee: Paul Tomes

Attendance: 69