Tadcaster Albion 2 Garforth 1

There was one change to the side that defeated Hallam in our last competitive game ten days ago - Harry Viggars replacing Sam Denton at the back.

Early goals have become a familiar feature this season (with the last five games all seeing one in the first ten minutes), and Garforth found themselves behind after just three minutes. Junaid Cassius-Gill's shot was parried by Harry Flatters and the ball was worked to Kieran Greenway who fired low into the net from the edge of the box. Town immediately set to work on finding an equaliser, with Charlie Marshall hitting over the bar from a narrow angle after the ball was worked into the box from Nash Connolly's free kick. It duly followed on ten minutes when Connolly's ball across the edge of the box found Jordan Emery who lashed into the roof of the net.

A bad foul by Oliver Norman on Joe Smith led to handbags at dawn on 19 mins, but the midfielder escaped with a yellow card. On 20 minutes The Brewers restored their lead when a corner to the far post found an unmarked Sam Kay who headed in past a stranded Flatters.

The Miners did enjoy chances, but for the remainder of the evening struggled to find the quality to break through the resolute home defence. An Emery shot went over the bar when Barker set him up after receiving the ball from Marshall's deflected effort, then there was another chance for Marshall when he did well to find his space in a crowded box, but his shot was straight at Tadcaster keeper Joe Wilton. Connolly was then unlucky to see a low strike come off the far post and into the arms of Wilton when supplied by captain Dan Coupland down the left wing.

Down the other end Flatters made a great save three minutes from the break to keep us in the game, turning wide Norman's shot around the far post.

Marshall was denied again early in the second half by a defensive block deep in the six-yard box after combining with Connolly. Soon after Dan McDaid headed narrowly wide of his own goal from Connolly's free-kick as the hosts' lead remained intact. McDaid was involved again moments later when he looked to have fouled Barker in the box, but the referee waved away Town's appeals.

The Miners had committed numbers forward, leaving them exposed to Tadcaster counter attacks, but so far the hosts hadn't been able to take advantage to give us a mountain to climb. One such saw a three-on-one break, but we did well to recover and snuff out the threat twenty yards from goal. Another chance shortly after from a dubiously awarded free kick ended in Cody Collins' towering header going just beyond the far post.

After sustained Town pressure, chances followed for both sides in the final fifteen minutes, as Garforth frustration started to creep in. Another Connolly chance saw the midfielder blaze over the bar from close range after Barker dribbled into the box and his cross was flicked on. A Brewers counter should've ended in a third when Norman was released, but Flatters made a fingertip save to turn his low shot beyond the far post. Down the other end a Jamie Barkway header from sub Jay Davis' corner kick was just wide. That turned out to be the last action for the centre-back who was sent to the sin-bin for dissent shortly after. There was further frustration with the officials in injury time, when the referee played advantage after a foul on a Garforth player, but when the attack broke down decided not to blow up, leading to a Brewers counter. The controversy ended there though when sub Joseph Dixon's low shot went just beyond the far post.

Sadly for the travelling support a dramatic late equaliser wasn't forthcoming, leaving the hosts to celebrate a first win in four matches. A grim run against our local rivals now extends to eight competitive games without a win, the last one almost eighteen years ago to the day. Something to address when the two sides meet on Cedar Ridge next month, meanwhile there's a rare home game (LS25 2PF!) this Saturday when Handsworth, the only side to have stopped us scoring so far this season, are the visitors (kick-off 3pm).