Garforth Town 2-4 Liversedge FC

(photo - former Garforth player SamAkeroyd battles with Niah Payne)

Former Garforth players Mitch Hamilton and Sam Akeroyd were among the scorers as Liversedge condemned Town to a 4-2 defeat.
It took Hamilton just five minutes of his Cedar Ridge return to get on the scoresheet, after being played in by the instrumental Rhys Davies. Hamilton calmly slotted the ball across Toby Wells to give his new side an early lead.

Garforth’s first chance of note came when Devonte Morton shot wide with a half-volley from the right-hand side. Morton was involved again ten minutes later as he held the ball up on the left wing, but his low cross was smothered by opposition keeper Harrison Davison-Hale.
Next, Niah Payne played a one-two with Morton on the left, before driving forward and unleashing a powerful shot from distance, which caused problems for Davison-Hale. It was Town’s best chance of the game up to that point.

Morton had another chance soon after, but his header missed. Down the other end, Liversedge also missed a chance from a header, as the dangerous Joe Walton couldn’t convert.
Further chances came in the half for Garforth, with FA Cup hat-trick hero Albert Ibrahimi’s tap in from yards out saved by Davison-Hale. Javan Benjamin also went close, but his long-distance left-footed strike rose just over the crossbar.

Garforth went into the half-time break confident of getting back into the game, but the second half started in far from ideal circumstances. Walton charged through the Town defence and was brought down by Wells in the box. Akeroyd stepped up to take the resulting penalty, and had no problem in converting, powering it into the corner.

Moments later, Liversedge had a chance to increase their two-goal lead, as Benjamin was dispossessed. Walton shot from distance, but it went wide of Wells’ right-hand post.

Benjamin made amends five minutes later by providing the assist for Garforth’s first goal. His inswinging cross from the left was coolly finished by Morton to give Town a foothold back in the game.
Sanchez Payne later saw an effort go wide, as his volley from a set piece went just off target.

Just as Garforth were growing back into the game, Liversedge struck again, with Walton finishing from the centre of the box to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage.
Garforth weren’t throwing the towel in though, and Ibrahimi went close after turning his marker, his shot going wide.
However, Liversedge soon made it 4-1. Walton got his second with another strike from the middle of the box. Garforth were angered by the award of a free kick in the build up to the goal, but the referee wasn’t going to change his mind, and Town had just under 15 minutes to try and find three goals.

As the clock ticked down, Garforth had a good spell of possession, but perhaps needed more urgency to get back into the game. After a good passing move down the left, Sanchez Payne’s shot was saved low by Davison-Hale.
Although a comeback was now virtually impossible, Garforth did get a consolation in injury time, with Curtly Martin-Wyatt scoring a penalty to get his first goal since returning to the club in the summer.

Liversedge deserved their 4-2 win, and it left Garforth with some lessons to learn, but Rob Hunter’s men can also take some positives, as they played well in spells of the game. Next up is another home matchup, against Athersley Recreation this Saturday (18th August).