MX23RW : Sunday, January 2 17:07:55| >> :120:23373:23373:
Apr 5, 2021 at 3pm UK at CNG Stadium
HarrogateHarrogate Town
0-2
Port ValePort Vale

Thomson (51')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Worrall (48'), Guthrie (90')
Conlon (61')

Result: Rebecca Welch makes history as EFL's first female referee

Result: Rebecca Welch makes history as EFL's first female referee
© Reuters
Rebecca Welch, 37, made history and her day went unspoilt without any major controversy.

Referee Rebecca Welch made an impressive debut as she became the first woman to be appointed to officiate an EFL match in Port Vale's 2-0 win at Harrogate.

Welch, 37, made EFL history and her day went unspoilt without any major controversy, barring a contentious decision to wave away Harrogate's appeals for a first-half penalty.

Port Vale secured their fifth straight Sky Bet League Two victory with David Worrall scoring against the run of play early in the second half and substitute Kurtis Guthrie making sure of the points in the 90th minute.

Victory saw Darrell Clarke's side leapfrog Harrogate into 15th place in the table, with both sides well clear of relegation trouble.

Welch enjoyed a relatively uneventful first EFL match despite the frantic nature of the contest from kick-off.

Never flustered, the official turned down two first-half penalty appeals from Harrogate, the second of which was contentious.

Port Vale defender Leon Legge clattered into the back of Connor Hall in the 31st minute and, despite loud appeals from the home side, Welch waved play on.

Before that Welch turned down an appeal from Harrogate when Jack Muldoon's cross hit Nathan Smith on the hand, but there was little the visiting defender could do about it and, as he did not make his body shape bigger, it appeared the correct decision.

Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown ensured the game remained goalless at the interval, with a series of crucial first-half saves.

Brown kept out Mark Beck's header and, after Dan Jones had headed wide for the home side, the Vale keeper blocked two shots in quick succession, from Josh McPake and then Muldoon on the rebound.

Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw saved well to keep out Devante Rodney's low angled effort before Brown held Muldoon's header just before half-time.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play three minutes after the restart when Worrall burst on to Robinson's pass into the area and smashed an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

Harrogate chased an equaliser without carving out clear-cut chances and Vale substitute Guthrie made sure of maximum points when he fired home a low shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute.

ID:441967: cacheID:441967:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4236:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Championship
La Liga
Primeira Liga
League One
National League
National League North
National League South
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Segunda Division
Australian A-League
International Friendlies
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Forest Green RoversForest Green21145245202547
2Northampton TownNorthampton2212463122940
3Sutton UnitedSutton2312383528739
4Tranmere RoversTranmere2211562014638
5Swindon TownSwindon2210753426837
6Port Vale21105635231235
7Newport CountyNewport239863832635
8Exeter CityExeter228953326733
9Mansfield TownMansfield229582728-132
10Leyton Orient22710537211631
11Harrogate TownHarrogate228683531430
12Bradford CityBradford2261152926329
13Walsall227872827129
14Crawley TownCrawley218492631-528
15Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool2384112434-1028
16Salford City217682421327
17Rochdale226973030027
18Bristol Rovers217592733-626
19Barrow2358102328-523
20Colchester UnitedColchester215791728-1122
21Carlisle UnitedCarlisle2257101629-1322
22Stevenage2348111636-2020
23Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe23310101938-1919
24Oldham AthleticOldham2446142239-1718

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Match previews - Daily
Transfer Talk Daily
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!