Pitchero

Garforth Town

Harrogate Railway Athletic

S Hunter (36', 65', 90'), M Simpson (49'), L Turner (73')

Full time

Tue 2 Apr 19:45 - Toolstation Northern Counties East League - Premier Division Attendance 140

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League round up

Garforth 5 Harrogate Railway 0

By Andrew Marsh

Town ended fears of relegation in style as a Sean Hunter hattrick, plus goals from Mark Simpson and Lee Turner helped them to their biggest win of the season.

Centre-back Alex Low, dual-registered with Clitheroe, made a return to the squad, allowing midfielder Michael Thompson to push forward and replace Kane Bingley.

It was a slow start for The Miners, and had the visitors finished a couple of early chances, maybe things would have turned out differently. Former Town player Albert Ibrahimi forced a good save from Toby Wells with a low drive on 4 mins, before another ex-player, this time Mitch Hamilton, came close on 20 mins when getting clear of the defence and heading over an onrushing Wells just outside the box, but it ended up inches wide of the post. Michael Thompson, himself playing against his old club, curled a shot wide a few minutes later, but we were yet to test Joe Wilton in the Railway goal.

There was little Wilton could do about our opener when it arrived though on 36 mins. Sean Hunter stepped up for a free kick 20 yards from goal and fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner to put The Miners ahead.

Hamilton came close again for our neighbours soon after when making a jinking run through the middle, his low effort just wide.

The first chance of the second period fell to Rail's Aaron Haswell two minutes in, firing narrowly over the bar after the ball was worked across from right to left. The half time replacement of an injured Matthew Wilkinson with James Beaston saw Rob Hunter's side step up a gear however, and from then on they never looked back. On 49 mins the lead was doubled when Simpson got clear of the defence and coolly chip the stranded Wilton. He almost grabbed his second of the night shortly after that when set up by an outstanding Sam Barker (also ex-Railway), but his strike was just over the bar.

There followed a couple of opportunities for the visitors to pull one back. Haswell shot just wide after weaving his way through defenders inside the box, before former Town defender Luke McCrum got on the end of an inswinging free kick, but somehow skied over the bar.

It was 3-0 on 65 mins when Simpson worked in from the right, drew Wilton and squared to Hunter in the six yard box to slot home.

To their credit, the relegation-threatened visitors showed plenty of spirit to get themselves on the scoresheet, but couldn't match Town's quality in front of goal. Substitute Adam Turner shot straight at Wells on 68 mins after a flowing move through the middle.

It's fair to say corner kicks and headed goals haven't been Town's speciality this season, but the stars aligned on 73 mins when Hunter's corner was met with a thumping header from Turner to make it four. On 82 mins, excellent work from substitute Harry Freedman saw Hunter inches away from connecting with his pass across the six-yard box. It mattered not however as the young striker earned his first hattrick for the club in injury time, and reward for his tireless displays of late. A counter attack ended in Simpson again working in from the right and finding Hunter at the far post to turn home.

What a difference twelve days makes; Town have now earned seven points out of a possible nine, and a third clean sheet in a row at that, the first during our manager's reign in charge.

We make the short visit to west Leeds for our next game this Saturday; Albion Sports our opponents (kick-off 3pm).