The first half was played at a frenetic pace amid blustery conditions. It was a disappointing one from a Garforth perspective though, with the impressive visitors exposing us down the flanks and enjoying most of the chances. On 5 mins Dominic Wilson's shot was blocked by a defender when a cross from the right was only half-cleared, before a good move saw Ben Cohen curl over the bar from the edge of the box. Town's only real chance of the half came from Luke Kitson's wind-assisted free-kick on 11 mins which was cleared off the line by Gregg Anderson.

A well-worked move on 15 mins saw our visitors open the scoring. Blaine Hobson's low cross to the back post was steered into the net by Cohen. The roles were reversed for a glorious chance for 2-0 only moments later when Cohen's cross picked out an unmarked Hobson who could only shoot harmlessly wide. Simon Parkes was causing Town problems down the left and came close on 24 mins when he shot wide of the far post, and on 35 mins he got on the end of Pete Lawrie's punch out of the 18 yard box to deliver to Cohen who fired against the side netting. It was no surprise when Knaresborough finally made it two just before half time; Anderson picking out an unmarked Hobson to volley low into the back of the net.

The chances continued for our neighbours in the early part of the second period, Brad Walker shot over the bar from 20 yards, before some good play ended in Cohen supplying Conor Donoghue to fire narrowly over. A change of formation on 55 mins saw Town throw men forward and finally produce something to excite the home crowd. Aiden Kearsley put a 20 yard effort just wide on 64 mins, before Kitson stepped up for another free kick in a promising position, but in the end it was a routine catch for goalkeeper Dan Atkinson. On 73 mins Town had a goal back, and it was a first club goal for defensive midfielder Daniel Coupland who headed home Lee Turner's cross to make things interesting.

Cohen was unlucky not to grab his second of the game on 77 mins when he beat Ryan Donoghue and saw his low shot across Lawrie shave the far post. There was another Kearsley chance a minute later when set up by sub Jamie Reeson but it was a difficult take and his effort went high over the bar. There were handbags on 83 mins when Simon Parkes made a rash challenge on Ward in front of the dugouts, then push him to the ground. After unpleasant scenes which also saw Knaresborough manager Paul Stansfield pushed to the ground, referee Paul Ince gave Parkes a straight red and produced yellows for Ward and a substituted Kitson.

The tie drifted to the 90 min-mark but the drama didn't finish there as Town completed the comeback to send the tie into extra time. A cross from out wide was headed onto Reeson who volleyed into the bottom corner to level the scoring. Another player to open his account for the club, and what a moment to do it! The visitors, surely disappointed to have let their lead slip, went in search of an even later winner; Donoghue went close with a back-post header against the side netting, before Lawrie made an excellent save to deny Cohen.

Captain James Beaston forced a low save from Atkinson when set up by McMurrough on the edge of the box six mins into extra time, but two minutes after that Knaresborough grabbed what would be the winning goal to progress into the Second Round. A dubiously awarded free-kick out wide was delivered to sub Sam Cook who headed down for Anderson to sidefoot low into the net. Amid torrential rain which had already seen a number of spectators seek the sanctuary of the clubhouse, Kearsley was unlucky not to produce another Town equalizer when he found himself clear deep inside the box to strike against the bar. On 113 mins it became 10 vs 10 when the already booked McMurrough was adjudged to have fouled Ben Parkes, and was given a second yellow and sent for an early bath. A minute later Anderson headed over the bar Conor Donoghue's free-kick, before Lawrie was almost left red-faced by Ben Parkes' attempted lob, but the keeper managed to scramble across and turn it wide of the post.

A game in which Rob Hunter's side ultimately paid the price for a poor first half against strong opposition, but they can take heart from a spirited comeback.

Town are back in league action next Saturday when we host Barton Town (kick-off 3pm).