Garforth win by the odd goal in nine

Goals from Ward, Silva, Hunter, Brownlee and Simpson earned The Miners a topsy-turvy 5-4 success at Hall Road Rangers for our first consecutive victory since February 10th.

In the end the result was a closer one than it probably should’ve been with us twice taking a two goal lead, but a win against a side undefeated in six can’t be sniffed at.

The first chance of the evening fell to Jack Binns on 6 mins who volleyed over the bar Chris Spink’s cross, but Town gave themselves an 8th minute lead when Sean Hunter put through Calum Ward to score with an superb curling strike over Hall Road keeper James Hitchcock. Miners keeper Stephen Weatherill saved at the feet of captain Danny Norton on 18 mins, before Hitchcock saved with his feet Ward’s effort from a narrow angle.

It was 2-0 on 21 mins when Helmo Silva got the first goal for the club his recent performances deserved; converting at the near post Mitch Hamilton's corner. Two minutes later the hosts pulled one back when Weatherill palmed Spinks’ corner straight to Dane Mortimer who half-volleyed into the net. Hunter was unlucky not to restore the two-goal lead on 26 mins when he saw his effort from a narrow angle cleared by Mortimer via the foot of the post after rounding Hitchcock. The equalizer arrived on the half-hour mark when Josh Batty rose highest to head home a Reagan Ward corner past a stranded Weatherill. Batty came close to getting a second to turn the tables when his glancing header from Spink’s free-kick went just beyond the far post. On the stroke of half time however we were handed a glorious opportunity to restore our lead once more when a long punt forward ended in Mortimer fouling Ward in the box. Referee Andy Smith pointed to the spot and showed the midfielder a yellow card. Hunter stepped up take it and duly sent Hitchcock the wrong way to make it 3-2 at the break.

There was a hairy moment on 59 mins when Weatherill palmed a right wing delivery onto the crossbar, the Town defence managing to clear the danger. Garforth gave themselves a two goal lead once again however on 61 mins. And it was another player getting himself off the mark – Aodhan Brownlee’s 30 yard cross-cum-shot deceiving Hitchcock and flying into the far corner. It was an eventful evening for Mortimer meanwhile, who was given his marching orders two minutes later after being given a second yellow card, this time for dissent.

Playing against ten men hasn’t been straightforward for Rob Hunter’s men this season, and the hosts were handed a route back into the game on a plate on 76 mins when Weatherill spilled Connor Harman’s delivery to the feet of Batty who slotted home for his second (4-3). Hall Road’s direct approach (think Pontefract!) caused us problems in the last 15 mins, particularly from substitute Louis Bruce’s 30-yard throw-ins. On 87 mins Matthew Robertshaw cleared off the line from Batty, but a minute later substitute Mark Simpson surely made the points safe two minutes from time when getting on the end of Silva’s delivery to slide the ball beyond Hitchcock. There was to be late drama down the other end though when Benn Lewis headed home from Bruce’s throw (5-4). There followed a scuffle immediately after the goal and then shortly afterwards in the middle of the park which saw a player from each side booked. There were to be no further goals though and Town had done enough to take the points back down the M62.

Goals from the game can be viewed courtesy of East Hull Pete.

Garforth are next in action this very evening when we cross the Humber to take on Barton Town (kick-off 7:45pm).