Knaresborough Town 4 Garforth 2

A more familiar looking lineup to that seen at Handsworth last week saw Dexter Ball and Dan Coupland return to the starting eleven whilst Kieran Clayton was given a start ahead of Alex Zachariou.

The Miners had more of the ball early on, but without creating any clear-cut chances. Seeking a fifth league win on the trot, Knaresborough grew into the game and looked dangerous along the flanks. Dom Creamer was denied in the box by the Town defence on 18 mins, before Cameron Bedford’s low drive was saved by Toby Wells at the near post. Further stout defending then kept out efforts from both Nathan Cartman and Sam Kilner. After absorbing all of that, Garforth pressure followed with Sam Barker, Tabish Hussain and Matt Antcliff to the fore. Antcliff’s low shot was just wide of the post when played in by Barker and Dexter Ball was unlucky to see a curling effort hit the far post. We took the lead for the first time in a match this season on 33 mins. Good work down the left saw the ball played to Antcliff just outside the box who finished low into the net. Five minutes later our lead was doubled. Hussain’s corner kick was headed into the ground by captain Dan Coupland and amid a crowd of players Harry Viggars glanced the rising ball into the net.

Another set-piece almost led to Viggars making it three. After Barker’s shot from Hussain’s free-kick was blocked in the area, the centre-back lashed a thundering strike against the post as the woodwork came to the hosts’ rescue once more.

Two minutes before the break Knaresborough had one back when Bedford’s cross was turned home at close range by Creamer.

Despite still being a goal ahead, what has become a familiar tale so far this season was to unfold of Garforth chances in key moments not taken, errors at the back punished and a shakiness after conceding a goal quickly leading to a second. The hosts grabbed the equaliser just a minute in when Town couldn’t clear their lines after the ball was worked in from the left, allowing Danny Edwards to tee up Bedford to sidefoot into the bottom corner. Their comeback was complete when substitute Ewan Gregson made his way in from the right unchallenged and finished well into the bottom corner of the net. Wells made an excellent stop to push wide an Edwards header soon after, leading to another good spell for The Miners who now found themselves chasing the game. A 20-yard effort from Rinor Ejupi was straight at Knaresborough keeper Tommy Brown, then Antcliff did brilliantly to pick his way through defenders when played in by sub Lee Turner, but his rising strike was just over the bar.

Play was then stopped after an injury to referee Mark Findlay, who despite attention from both physios was forced off the field. The call for a qualified referee to run the line so an assistant could take over in the middle was answered by one of the home coaching staff, and after a thirteen minute delay play continued. The Garforth chances did too, but an equaliser of our own wasn’t forthcoming. Barker’s 25-yard effort was straight at Brown, then Coupland likewise couldn’t keep his shot away from him after a tricky foray in by sub Duke Witter. More good work by Witter saw him deliver to fellow sub Jason Davis at the far post, but his shot was wide.

In a lengthy period of added time, Knaresborough put the game to bed when Gregson scored a second, latching on to sub Colin Heath’s header to find the net via the far post. A couple more chances followed for Town with Davis and Barker coming close, before down the other end Heath almost made it five when meeting a left wing delivery, but his header was straight at Wells.

Five games without a win is Town’s worst start to a season for fourteen years, but it's not for lack of endeavour and only a lack of quality at times stands in the way of our fortunes improving. After four away games on the bounce we do at least return to home soil this Saturday when West Allotment Celtic are the visitors in the FA Vase (kick-off 3pm).