A goal from Luke McCrum wasn't enough to prevent our pre-season friendly schedule ending in disappointing fashion as Division 1 side Glasshoughton went away 3-1 winners in an entertaining game.

Manager Rob Hunter chose to field two different sides in each half, with only goalkeeper Stephen Weatherill playing the full 90 minutes. The first half XI comprised mostly of new signings and triallists. Our neighbours enjoyed most of the first half chances and went in at the break with a deserved 2-0 lead. Tom Coyles smashed over the bar on 10 mins when given time and space on the right. It was a warning Town failed to heed, with the opening goal coming down the same flank ten minutes later. A cross-field ball found Ash Scothern who smashed low past Weatherill and into the net. On 23 mins Welfare's lead was doubled when Conor Glavin's free-kick was headed on to Scothern who headed the ball home at the back post for his second of the game.

Any attacks Garforth did manage to string together tended to break down in the final third, but there were a couple of chances just before half time. Brett Smith rose highest to head Regan Fish's corner kick narrowly wide, before Luke Kitson's free kick in a good position was easily gathered by Glasshoughton keeper Ash Wood.

The second half saw a more familiar line-up take the field, but within five minutes we were three down. Alongside Scothern, French striker Elie Jr Akobeto was a real handful for the Town defence, but his goal was put on a plate for him after a poor back-pass was intercepted by a team-mate, allowing him to fire into an empty net. There was a nervous moment five minutes later when a ball forward almost caught Weatherill out, but he recovered to claim at the feet of Scothern.

From then on Garforth were much better; Lee Turner had a shot saved amid a sea of bodies on the hour-mark, before Adam Turner was denied by a last ditch challenge by Welfare's number 15 when he was put through by Mitch Hamilton. On 67 mins we had a goal back when Lee Turner's delivery to the back post was prodded home by Luke McCrum. Our neighbours had a defensive mixup of their own three minutes later which Town sadly couldn't take advantage of, and shortly after Hamilton and Lee Turner both had efforts on goal denied by Wood. A decent move on 76 mins almost saw a rare goal for James Beaston when he got on the end of Sam Lingard's delivery, but it was just wide of target.

There followed a couple of chances for our visitors when Weatherill made a great save from Scothern on 77 mins, before claiming a bouncing effort from Coyle. There was one more opportunity for Town to further reduce the arrears two mins from time when Lee Turner's well-hit strike brought an equally good stop from Wood.

In the end though The Miners had given themselves too much work to do, and the visitors deservedly headed back down Ridge Road (or "Mary Pannal") with the win.

Town team (1st half): Weatherill, Leach (c), Kitson, Maude, M. Robertshaw, Poole, Silva, K. Robertshaw, Hunter, Fish, Smith.
2nd half: Weatherill, Lazenby, Lingard, Beaston (c), McCrum, Donoghue, Kearsley, Coupland, A. Turner, Hamilton, L. Turner.