Match Report: Eccleshill United FC 0-0 Garforth Town

It was a solid point earned for Sean Regan's side on Wednesday, see how the action unfolded in the match report below.

The Eagles returned to action on Wednesday night, welcoming Leeds based side Garforth Town to the Mitton Group Stadium. The sides played out an entertaining 0-0 draw, in what was a fair reflection of the game.

Eccleshill started very brightly, with last season’s top scorer Luke Harrop threatening early on after a raking ball by skipper Sam Bradley picked him out. Harrop tricked his way past the left back but his clipped cross was headed away.

Youngster Jake Thompson was also looking sharp on the opposite wing, retaining the ball well and setting it to the onrushing Andy Cooper, who’s first time long distance strike was comfortably over in the end.

Garforth started imposing themselves on the game in the 11th minute, with their right winger doing well to create some space and delivering in a teasing ball which just about evaded everyone in the box.

Another youngster in the form of Ryan Hargreaves was making his debut on Wednesday, who was needed in the 14th minute to make a brilliant recovery challenge as the away side countered from an Eccleshill corner.

The away side’s wingers were causing Eccleshill problems, and their next chance came through their number seven. He jinked past Matt Stor before clipping a cross goalwards which went inches wide of the far post.

Another cross created the biggest chance of the game for Garforth in the 31st minute. A floated cross to the back post was met by a midfielder who nodded it just wide of the far post.

That was the last bit of notable action in the first half, with both sides defending well and struggling to carve out many clear cut opportunities.

Eagles right back Matt Stor almost set up the opening goal of the game in the 54th minute, when his whipped cross was somehow not powered in from close range.

Garforth responded by going close with a cross of their own in the 68th minute, but the volley was straight at Man Of The Match Dom Smith, who did well to gather and relieve some of the pressure on his team.

A couple of minutes later, Smith was needed again to make a spectacular save from close range to deny the Garforth attacker from scoring what seemed a routine goal.

It was fast becoming a busy night for the Eagles shot stopper, and he was there again to make yet another important save, this time beating away a powerful drive at his near post from the right hand side of the box.

The final piece of action in the game came on the 90th minute mark, with late drama almost seeing both sides snatch a late winner.

First, Hargreaves rose highest to rattle the crossbar with a header, from which Garforth broke and saw their winger flash a cross-come-shot across the face of goal, which was inches from settling in the far bottom corner.

In the end, a point was a fair result for both sides who battled hard to ensure they didn’t go home empty handed. Sean Regan’s side now have a small rest with their game on Saturday being rearranged, which they will look to take advantage of.