Eccleshill United 0-1 Garforth Town

Garforth will head into their playoff semi-final on the back of a hard-
fought victory away from home despite not being at their best, having
beaten Eccleshill United 1-0 at the Servo Group Stadium.

Harry Viggars was in the right place at the right time to snatch a goal
in the second half and helped ensure a clean sheet down the other end,
meaning that Paul Marshall’s men rounded off the season in good
fashion.

In what was to be a scrappy game, the evening got off to a contested
start with possession frequently changing hands between the sides.

Garforth first looked to threaten from a set piece that was delivered by
Dan Coupland but nothing would come of it, as Jamie Barkway’s
header was claimed by Stephen Fearnley.

As the first half progressed the match remained cagey with the Miners
defending well, continually looking to counter and play one of their
front three through on goal by sending balls over the top, although it
was yet to come off.

A great pass from midfield sent Alex Zachariou into space down the
line where he looked to cross and won a corner. It was cleared away
but eventually dropped to the feet of Dexter Ball, who struck one
from range but couldn’t find the target.

Eccleshill later had a good chance of their own following a nice
move. A cross was played to the far post by Harvey Booth before a
string of passes gave Etienne Sumaili the opportunity to shoot from

the edge of the area, where he looked to curl home but placed
narrowly wide.

HALF TIME: Eccleshill United 0-0 Garforth Town

The teams re-emerged for the second half and straight away looked to
set about breaking the deadlock.

Eccleshill won a freekick in good range and Shay David Murihead
produced a good effort, aiming for the top corner but finding the side
netting.​
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Garforth responded and Sam Barker could’ve set up the opener,
playing the ball into the feet of Sam Cable inside the box, were it not
for a good block by Jahro Parchment to deny the forward.

Barkway later managed to get on the end of another Garforth corner
but the centre half nodded wide.

With 60 minutes played Garforth were starting to get into their groove
and soon after Cable forced a quality save out of Fearnley, after he
was played into space out wide before seeing his low strike across goal
saved by the feet of the ‘keeper.

The Miners had started the second half well on top and after
threatening from several set pieces throughout the game they finally
managed to undo their opponents with one. Harry Viggars was the
goalscorer, bundling the ball home from close range after Cable
headed a corner down to his feet.

As time went on Garforth remained on the front foot and later Cable
should have probably doubled our lead. A clever dink over the top
from Coupland sent the striker one on one, but he failed to get the
better of Fearnley who produced another good stop.

Entering the closing stages of the evening the Miners continued to
look for a second goal to kill the game off. Our backline had done a
good job of keeping the home side quiet and were frustrating their
opponents.

Ultimately, we wouldn’t manage to grab another goal but despite a
late spell from Eccleshill the Miners held out and sealed all 3 points
on the road to complete a strong end to the season.

FULL TIME: Eccleshill United 0-1 Garforth Town