ALBION Sports distanced themselves from the drop zone in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division after beating Harrogate Railway Athletic 2-1 – despite playing over half of the game with ten men.

Both teams ended the game a man down after Rail defender Luke McCrum’s eventful day ended with an 88th minute red card for a professional foul.

His side had come back into the game against Albion’s ten men in the second half, but by that late stage the Lions were defending well and comfortably seeing the game out.

The Lions got off to the best possible start when Lamin Janneh ended a fine move with a good finish to give the home side a third minute lead. Janneh was also instrumental in the second goal, claiming the assist as McCrum netted an own goal.

Janneh had been forced wide but he drilled a waist high cross through the area from the right flank and the big defender inadvertently turned it past his own keeper, Mateus Zaniewski, as he attempted to control the ball.

Albion were reduced in numbers five minutes before the break.

Midfielder Chris Fairhurst launched himself into a tackle ten yards inside his own half, the Rail players immediately howled at the referee for a red card and Fairhurst departed – still protesting his innocence to the assistant referee.

The Rail had looked a side lacking in confidence in the first half but they made a game of it in the second period.

Albion still created chances but their failure to take one of them meant the opposition were always in the game and they got their lifeline in the 71st minute.

Lions keeper Brad Emerson made a rare error as he mistimed an attempted punch as a free-kick floated into the area and the ball bounced up nicely for McCrum to nod home.

Rail substitute Daniel Blacker struck the angle of post and bar with an 86th minute free-kick but two minutes later McCrum brought Kesi Omolokun down just outside the area after the forward had broken through the backline.

Albion manager Kulwinder Sandhu missed the win as he was out of the country. But in his absence his side held on and are nine points better off than Harrogate Railway, who dropped back into the bottom two after the defeat.