Debutant Sam Akeroyd gave Garforth the lead, but the Miners failed to score again after a string of impressive saves from Winsford goalkeeper Nathan Beckett.
Beckett’s heroics kept Winsford alive and the away side equalised through Harry Noon with three minutes remaining of normal time.
James Rothwell then scored the winning goal as the game looked set to go to a Tuesday night replay.
The first half was a pretty drab affair with Garforth’s American attacking midfielder Logan McDaniel wasting the Miners’ best chance after breaking through on goal – Beckett the saviour for Winsford with a smart save.
Midfielder David Gbemie went the closest for Winsford with a long range attempt.
Garforth broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Akeroyd, who came on as first half substitute for Josh Greenhalgh, held off two Winsford defenders before firing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Garforth then had further opportunities to kill the game off. Beckett denied Josh Cartman from point blank range after the striker latched onto Tawanda Rupere’s superb cross on the hour.
Beckett then created more headlines for himself by somehow tipping McDaniel’s powerful header, which seemed destined for the top corner, away from danger.
The game reached its closing stages and Winsford were gaining momentum and a couple of half chances, Haslam’s young side got their equaliser. Garforth allowed Noon time and space to take the ball down and control before the striker fired the ball into the bottom corner from eight yards.
The game sailed into extra-time and Winsford were in control. Garforth seemed to have run out of steam and the away side were causing all the problems. Noon thought he had scored again within a minute of the start of the extra 30 minutes with a low drive that flashed just wide.
Winsford had to wait until the last five minutes of extra-time. Garforth had survived a couple of scares, but the home side only have themselves blame after failing to clear the ball during a scramble. Rothwell was the hero after slamming home at the fourth attempt inside the six-yard box.
Garforth still had time to respond and nearly did. Inside a mad final two minutes, Beckett brilliantly batted away Cartman’s powerful shot which Winsford initially managed to clear. The ball came back and Cartman was unlucky with another attempt as the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.
Rupere then fired the follow-up shot just over the bar and that was Garforth’s last chance.
Garforth Town: Martens, Stohrer (Woodger 55), Misambu, Allen (captain), Hawksworth, Hilton (Helliwell HT), Rupere, McDaniel, Cartman, Bower, Greenhalgh (Ackroyd 32). Subs unused: Smith, Oyebanji.
Winsford United: Beckett, M Jones, Lane, Gbemie (McNamara 109), J Jones, Constantine, Banda, Wareing (Rothwell 83), Hirst, Noon, Liddle (Westwood 68). Sub unused: Bush.
Referee: P Sporne (Sheffield)
Attendance:
Man of the match: Nathan Beckett (Winsford United)