Garforth Town 2-0 Yorkshire Amateur

Garforth produced one of their best performances of the season as they beat table toppers Yorkshire Amateur 2-0 in a thoroughly entertaining game (by Samuel Bannister)

Many fans, players and staff felt Garforth were unlucky not to get a result out of the reverse fixture, and once again they showed their ability to compete with top quality teams, as they became the first NCEL side to keep a clean sheet against Ammers this season.

The game started in a positive fashion for Garforth, with Sean Hunter seeing his curled shot saved within the first 15 seconds. The 18-year-old attacker was starting in a more central position after recent outings on the wing and made his intentions clear right from kick-off.

At the other end, the visitors created their first chance of the game not long after, as ex-Garforth man Fernando Moke slid the ball through to Ammers’ star striker Ashley Flynn. However, the number nine, who has already scored 27 league goals this season, saw his shot saved by Toby Wells. The game had started at a frantic pace, and it became clear that it was going to be an end-to-end encounter. Garforth weren’t afraid of their high-flying opponents.

As both teams continued to probe for an opener, Moke received the ball on the left wing, driving at the Garforth defence and trying to bamboozle them with stepovers. The attacking midfielder cut inside onto his right foot, but his shot went wide of the far post.

Curtly Martin-Wyatt was making his first start in nearly a month for Garforth, and the powerful striker came close to creating Town’s next opportunity when he held off opponents on the right-hand side and squared across the face of goal. However, an Ammers defender got a vital foot in to prevent it falling to a teammate.

Shortly after, another chance fell to Ammers, when Flynn shot over after the ball dropped to him from a corner. The visitors went close again when another ex-Garforth man, Jason St Juste – who scored the winner in the reverse fixture – cut in from the right wing and had a shot blocked.

One of Garforth’s standout performers this season has been inspirational keeper Wells. Despite his amazing form and tremendous penalty-saving record, he hadn’t actually kept a clean sheet for Garforth since September. Wells was determined to keep Ammers out though, and he was crucial again when he pushed away a left-footed shot from Moke.

After a spell of pressure from the away side, it was time for Garforth to get back among the chances. Aiden Kearsley is the longest-serving member of the current Garforth squad who has yet to score a goal for the club, but he went closer than ever before after a marauding run from right-back. The defender intercepted a sloppy Ammers pass in Garforth’s own half and drove up the pitch, before his effort across goal dramatically clipped the crossbar.

As the game ebbed and flowed from one box to the other, Flynn saw a couple of chances go amiss for the visitors, shooting wide after being teed up by Moke, and having another effort impressively cleared off the line by Alex Low. In between those chances, Garforth went close themselves, when Martin-Wyatt rose to head a great delivery from recent signing Kane Bingley. Martin-Wyatt’s attempt was blocked, but as the ball came back out, opposing keeper Graham McLachlan was forced to tip a shot over for a corner.

Garforth went in at the break feeling positive after a good, competitive half. Rob Hunter’s side knew they were giving the league leaders a serious game, and just five minutes into the second half, things got even better as Town took the lead.

Mitch Hamilton chipped the ball through to Sean Hunter, who was brought down by a defender right on the edge of the box. The pair both hovered over the free kick, and the Ammers wall was caught out by Hamilton’s dummy. Hunter took a few paces towards the ball before wrapping his foot around it, sending it flying right into the top corner. The ball swerved as it moved in on goal, with Hunter having injected a great deal of pace into the strike, and it ended up in the perfect place in the roof of the net. The goalkeeper was helpless.

It was a great moment for Hunter and his teammates, marking his first goal for the club since returning from a brief spell at Harrogate Railway earlier in the season. Unfortunately, the attacker had to be replaced five minutes later due to an injury, with Helmo Silva taking his place.

A rattled Ammers came searching for an equaliser, with T’Nique Fishley clipping the outside of the post with a long-range effort. Wells saved another Ammers shot moments later to keep his clean sheet intact, and as the game approached its final 20 minutes, he produced another fine stop to preserve Garforth’s lead.

With just over 10 minutes to go, an Ammers attacker attempted a bicycle kick in the box, and as it deflected away, Wells was forced into a great save from a follow-up shot.

By this time, Garforth had used all their substitutions, with Martin-Wyatt and James Beaston both forced off with cramp-related injuries. They had been replaced by Dan Williams and Joe Colley, and the former was about to make a huge impact. Having scored the winning goal against Albion Sports in December to open his Garforth account, it was time for Williams to score another significant goal to ease Garforth’s nerves and put the game beyond doubt.

The influential Bingley clipped the ball into Hamilton, who sent the ball on to Williams. Closing in on the keeper, his first effort was saved, but he needed no invitation to finish the rebound, dispatching the ball from yards out to all-but seal the victory.

As the final whistle blew, Garforth could celebrate their first win in three games, and their first over a higher-placed opponent since September. It’s been a difficult few weeks for Hunter’s side, but this result showed what they are capable of when every player works as hard as they can. It was a true team performance, with every player pulling their weight. Garforth may not have ended 2018 where they would have liked, but this win ensures the New Year has started on a positive note, restoring a feel-good factor within the squad. It’s one step at a time, but with key players now returning from injury and a standout result secured, things are starting to look good again for Garforth Town.