Miners pillaged by Vikings

On a night when few Presidents cup attendances reached three figures, Garforth recorded their lowest crowd of the season, just sixty one.

Those that did turn out got a fairly lively match.

Play in the early minutes was a bit scrappy, as the teams tried to get a foothold in the game.
Priestley had an early sniff of goal, but was cleverly blocked(obstructed?) on the edge of the box. "Play on" said the ref.

A minute later, Walker made his way into the box, but his cut-back was forced behind.

In another attack, Priestley found himself clear of the defence, but the keeper rushed out to head clear.
Minutes later, he was through again, this time chasing a long ball. He looked level, but the flag went up as he rolled the ball past the static keeper.

Then, on twenty minutes, the sucker punch.
A cross from the left wasn't dealt with, which enabled Allott to lay off an easy ball to Barwick, who tapped into the open goal.

Goole, riding high in the First Division South, gained some momentum and went looking for a second.
The goal duly arrived in the thirtieth minute.
Barwick returned the favour to Allott, looping the ball into the box. Allot remained composed and rounded kelsey to score.

Garforth heads didn't go down, and Walker nearly halved the deficit.
From inside the area, he tried to slip the ball under Gole keeper Parry (great name for a kepper by the way), but Parry got down well and the ball squirmed away.

Moments later, he tried a left foot shot which sailed over the bar.

Garforth came out where they left off in the second half.

Collins, who'd looked lively down the right, whipped in a ball between keeper and back four.
Walker connected, but seemed to be in two minds whether to go for goal or flick on for Priestley.
Neither happened in the end, but the ball was worked back to Walker, who's volley forced a save.

At the other end, Kelsey had to slide out and block a dangerous through ball with his feet.

Another clearance could only find the feet of a Goole player. The ball was given to Simon Harrison.
He turned his marker before placing beyond Kelsey.

Garforth had a mountain to climb.

Chris Howarth started the ascent just one minute later.
After a good controlled build up, he clipped the ball over the diving keeper for Towns' first.

The Miners continued to go for it.

Priestley put over, under a strong challenge.
Brown came on to bolster the attack. Garforth went direct, looking for the pace of Brown and Priestley.

Garforths' second came from a good bit a solo work from Walker.
Fisher took a short corner to Walker. He bamboozled two defenders as he made his way to the box before firing a left foot shot home.

Minutes later, Walker had the chance to level it. Getting onto a long ball, he tried to chip the keeper but uncharacteristically his technique let him down and the grateful keeper caught easily.

Goole had one more effort. A Van-Basten like volley landing on the roof of the net.

A few minutes more desperate defending versus desperate defending took place before the referee ended it.