Manager Paul Marshall made two changes to the side which were defeated by Guiseley seven days earlier; Jay Davis was handed a start to replace the unavailable Matt Antcliff whilst Rinor Ejupi replaced Joe Smith who was named a substitute.

In what was a scrappy first half, both sides came close in the first minute or so. Charlie Marshall saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box before Lewis Stephens' low effort was gathered by Harry Flatters.

It took until 24 mins for another chance of note to come about - Nash Connolly was put through on the right after Sam Barker won the ball back, but Knaresborough keeper Tommy Brown was quick off his line to deny the midfielder on the edge of the box. Hesitation among the Garforth defence moments later allowed Brad Walker to supply Danny Edwards, but his low shot went just wide. The action then went back to the other end, resulting in Town taking the lead. Connolly made his way in from the right and teed up Jay Davis who scored with a smart low finish across Brown. More good work by Connolly almost created a second on 33 mins; Rinor Ejupi's scuffed shot came off Barker, but Brown managed to gather.

On 35 mins there was a setback for The Miners when Jordan Emery had to be replaced by Alex Zachariou after feeling ill. Nevertheless, we went on to enjoy a good spell as half time approached, and had the chances created been taken, we may well have gone on to celebrate a Town victory. Connolly's corner kick was dropped by Brown, but with nobody in blue to take advantage. A promising foray by Barker sadly couldn't be finished off with Connolly shooting straight at the keeper. Connolly was in with another chance seconds later when picked out by Davis' cross-field pass, but again he couldn't keep his effort away from Brown. The rebound fell to Barker who tried to chip the stranded keeper, but it fell just wide.

The visitors, who so far hadn't really tested Flatters in the Town goal, made us pay by grabbing an equaliser in first half injury time. Sam Cook was first to Jack Emmeth's free-kick to the byeline and he beat Harry Viggars to find Philip Milsom who scored with a cracking finish into the top corner.

Goals for our opponents either side of half time proved crucial in wresting the game away from us in the away fixture back in August, and history was to repeat itself in this one. Four minutes into the second half, Walker's cross from the right was turned into his own net by Viggars, and Garforth suddenly found themselves behind. A lightweight-looking Town struggled to keep possession, with the opponents' game management frustrating home players and supporters alike. Walker almost grabbed a goal for himself to make it 3-1 on 58 mins when getting clear of a sleeping Miners defence, but he was only able to force a routine save from Flatters.

Town benefitted from a slice of luck to haul themselves level on 64 mins. Connolly's cross found Davis just inside the area, and the midfielder grabbed his second of the afternoon when his powerful shot deflected off former Town captain James Beaston into the net.

Sadly parity lasted only three minutes as Town conceded another avoidable goal. A Knaresborough ball forward went straight to Ejupi, who under pressure from substitute Jack Carr, tried to pass back to Flatters. His ball was short however, allowing Carr to pounce and beat the stranded keeper to restore his side's lead.

Connolly was denied again by Brown on the edge of the box from Marshall's crossfield pass as Garforth found themselves chasing the game once more. Davis came close to a hattrick on 68 mins when he shot narrowly over the bar after Connolly's corner kick was half-cleared. Down the other end Viggars cleared in the six-yard box Carr's cross after a mazy run into the box, then Flatters denied Edwards at the near post after Town couldn't clear their lines. Chances followed for Turner, Marshall and Coupland as the clock ticked down, but Brown wasn't tested, and the visitors went on to complete a first ever league double over us.

After an excellent run of form in the weeks beforehand, December has been rather hit and miss, with Town now finding themselves outside the play-off spots for the first time since mid-October. One side to go above us after Wednesday's defeat are Rossington Main after their win at Maltby, but we have the chance to change that when we pay a visit to Oxford Street on Saturday in the final match of 2023 (kick-off 3pm).