Garforth Town 1-2 Emley AFC

A frustrating evening at the Bannister Prentice stadium saw
top of league Emley AFC leave with all 3 points despite a
spirited performance from Garforth, in which a defensive
error proved to be the difference between the two promotion
hopefuls.

Amidst a contested start to the game, Harry Flatters was
caught flat footed as James Walshaw headed home a delivery
into the box, but thankfully the linesman flagged Emley’s
opener offside.

However, the away side had it in the back of the net again on
30 minutes, only this time it would stand. A delivery into the
box had the Miners scrambling to get rid but the ball was
nodded down to the feet of Ruben Jerome who fired into the
roof of the net.

But the league leaders weren’t in front for long as Garforth
responded almost instantaneously. From the kick-off Matt
Antcliff was released down the right flank before he played a
low cross into the area. It was met by Charlie Marshall who
swept the ball across goal, and Emley’s goalkeeper Petrovic
made a good stop, but couldn’t get back to his feet in time
before Harry Viggars smashed the rebound home.

Despite the end to end nature of the first half, there were few
chances between the sides. Garforth would come close to
taking the lead not long before half time, but Dexter Ball
directed his diving header inches wide after the midfielder
was picked out by Jay Davis’ inviting cross.

We headed in level at the break but undoubtedly on top.

HALF TIME: Garforth Town 1 – 1 Emley AFC

Marshall was the first to have an effort on goal once play
restarted, trying his luck with an audacious volley from
outside the box but failing to trouble Petrovic.

But from seemingly nowhere the visitors would be gifted back
the lead, following a poor back pass that played Iyrwah
Gooden through on goal. Flatters rushed out but couldn’t
prevent the forward from getting a shot off on target, which
was blocked on the line by Emery but bundled home from
point blank by Jerome for his second of the night.

Later on, the Miners found themselves fortunate that Walshaw
didn’t get a good enough connection on a ball played across
goal from the byline, as anything significant would have
surely directed it across the line.

Battling to get back into the game, Garforth came close to
equalising with Davis’ low strike from outside the area
forcing a big save. That would be the winger’s last action
before Paul Marshall opted to swap him out for Sam Cable.

Despite pressure from Garforth the visitors did well to kill our
momentum, controlling the game and frustrating us in the
process. The Miners did their best to get forward and threaten
but besides a long range effort from Antcliff that again forced
the visitors’ ‘keeper into action, the sting was taken out of our
attack. ​
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Despite finishing the game on top, we couldn’t find a way
through and following a late penalty shout that was waved
away by the referee, the game was brought to its close.