Knaresborough Town 1 Garforth 1

What the Miners lacked in chances created, they made up for with a resolute and determined defensive display to frustrate the promotion chasers.

Before the game there was a minute’s applause for Knaresborough Club President Terry Hewlitt, who sadly passed away earlier in the week.

Manager Rob Hunter reverted to a back four with captain James Beaston filling in at right back for an unavailable Aiden Kearsley. Aodhan Brownlee, Joe Colley and Sean Hunter returned to the first eleven and last week's goalscorer Josh Robinson-Wilson also made a rare start.

On ten minutes Toby Wells denied Brad Walker with a tremendous save to push his effort wide. Former Town striker Nick Black put a shot wide from the edge of the area on 17 mins, before Dan Thirkell saw a header tipped over the bar by Wells when picked out by Rob Worrall’s delivery. On 26 minutes Walker fired over the bar from a narrow angle after finding himself free on the right. There were two big chances for Black to score against his old club just after the half-hour mark; his header cleared off the line by Declan Greene, then moments later putting a low shot inches wide when supplied from the right by Walker.

Garforth were yet to test Knaresborough keeper Jack Rushworth, but he was beaten on 41 mins as we gained a shock lead. Kane Bingley’s long ball forward seemed to cause confusion in the home defence, allowing Sean Hunter to force a save on the edge of the box from Rushworth before slotting the rebound into the empty net.

It took only eight second half minutes for the home side to find the equaliser, Black rising highest to head home a left-wing corner. On 64 mins the striker’s clever flick from Conor Donoghue’s cross was just over the bar. Town had already lost goalscorer Hunter to injury just after the break, and suffered a further blow on 66 mins when teammate Brownlee was also forced off. Conor Hicken and Curtly Martin-Wyatt were their replacements, Hicken making his second appearance since signing for the club in November. Black came close again on 73 mins when picked out by a dubiously awarded free-kick in the middle of the park, Wells producing a save with his feet to keep him out. Then on 78 mins, Worrall’s free-kick found Luke Stewart at the far post who could only find the side netting. Two minutes later Black was put through by a ball over the top, but his flick over Wells landed on the roof of the net.

Despite the chances at the other end, Williams and Martin-Wyatt were making their presence felt up front as they looked to force errors. Rushworth saved at the feet of Martin-Wyatt after the striker found himself clear, before teammate Williams was denied by the goalkeeper’s feet on the edge of the box shortly after.

A great point on the road which sadly was only rewarded by a slip to 15th place after a win for Liversedge at Bottesford, but hopefully our superior goal difference on the two sides above will count in time. Two home fixtures up next for Rob Hunter’s side, starting with a local derby against Harrogate Railway next Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

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