Penistone Church 1 Garforth 5

A brace from Barker and goals from Emery, Marshall and Davis briefly moved us up to 3rd in the table (now fourth after Thackley's win at Pickering yesterday).

Utility man Jordan Emery moved to full-back, replacing Joe Smith who was named a substitute, meaning a place in the starting line-up for Matt Antcliff. Also in the first eleven was Sam Denton who replaced a suspended Jamie Barkway.

The hosts had the better of the possession in the first few minutes with Harry Flatters keeping out a Nathan Keightley effort at the near post but with the loose ball still needing to be cleared off the line. Town soon got forward however with Charlie Marshall coming close with a curled effort just beyond the far post. The Miners proceeded to give the home defence a torrid time with our pace, passing and movement and by the 25-minute mark we were 3-0 up. On 14 mins Matt Antcliff found himself free on the left and found Sam Barker just inside the box who shot low through the legs of Penistone keeper Harry Ambler to put us ahead. Antcliff was in with a chance moments later when supplied by Marshall but his low shot found the side netting. Marshall came close again when volleying onto the roof of the net after Antcliff headed on Jordan Emery's long throw-in. There was some confusion initially over who scored our second, but the general consensus among Garforth supporters was that it was Emery who scored from close range in a crowded box after Nash Connolly's probing corner-kick was missed by Ambler.

Marshall made it three on 25 mins when Connolly raced down the right, finding himself free in the box and calmly controlling and slotting into the bottom corner of the net. Church had one back five minutes later when Keightley's cross was deflected to Antony Brown who finished low across Flatters. They briefly rallied as they sought a way back into the game; Keightley headed just wide at the far post from a corner kick, then Flatters made a good save to turn wide a shot from a free-kick. Town responded by making it 4-1 five minutes before the break and surely put the game beyond their hosts. Another run from Connolly, this time down the left, ended in him finding Barker just inside the box who finished low into the net for his second of the game. Nine goals this season now for the "Miners Messi", putting himself top of our scoring charts. There was still time for a chance to make it five, with Antcliff denied by Ambler 25-yards from goal when released by Marshall's ball over the top.

In a less eventful second period, Marshall forced another save from Ambler on 61 mins after working his way in from the left. The ball was cleared straight to Antcliff who's shot was deflected wide. On 76 mins sub Jay Davis made it 5-1 from a clearly-practiced free-kick routine. Teed up by Marshall, his rasping drive found its way in at the near post with Ambler unable to keep it out. A rarely-seen indirect free kick inside the area awarded after Flatters caught a long back pass offered a chance for the hosts to reduce the arrears further on 81 mins. Town assembled themselves on the goalline, but it appeared to be a Penistone player who kept out a powerful strike from Leon Hurles-Brook.

Davis was denied a second by Ambler after good work by Marshall and Barker, then the latter was inches away from completing his hattrick when his diving header from Davis' delivery came off the post. In injury time Flatters kept the score to 5-1 when saving at the near post Brown's turn and shot.

An excellent win on the road for Paul Marshall's side against a side seeking a fourth win on the bounce and which completes the double over them for the second season running. Our quest for a first competitive home match since late October continues on Tuesday when we attempt for the third time to entertain neighbours Guiseley in the West Riding County Cup (kick-off 7:45pm).