Albion Sports 3 Garforth 1

There were returns to the first team line-up for Dan Barrett and Luke Mangham, replacing unavailable Tawanda Rupere and Spencer Lund. Liam Smith was injured in the warm up with Liam Royles filling in.

After only nine minutes Town found themselves behind. A cross-field ball evaded the head of Tim Robertson and found Lee Elam who raced into the area and finished well with a low shot into the far corner.

It had been a shaky start but Garforth soon found their rhythm in attack. Some good play by Barrett and Sinmi Oyebanji saw the ball played inside to Mangham on 12 mins who shot wide. The Lions' defence were struggling to cope with our pace and some rough challenges earned The Miners two free kicks in good positions within a couple of minutes. The first saw Robertson come close from 20 yards out, a low strike being gathered by home keeper Aaron Brian. From the second on 23 mins came the equaliser; top scorer Mangham delivered a fine strike over the wall and into the corner of the net with Brian a mere spectator.

A couple of mins later Elam thought he had put his team ahead once again with a header after a break forward but the offside flag was already raised.

On 32 mins Mangham had a good chance when set up by Royles but his curling effort went over the bar.

With the game still level approaching half time, Town had every chance to go on and win but disaster struck on 44 mins when Elam's corner from the left was punched into his own net by Hunter. A first own goal since Mitch Boland's at Glasshoughton in November 2013.

It was a setback Graham Nicholas' side never really recovered from. The home side upped their game in the second half and Town struggled to respond, with Brian in the Albion goal only having to make a few routine saves. We struggled to deal with Albion's attacks down the flanks with top scorer Danny Facey springing to the fore. Time and again we had Jack McCarthy and Ashley Preece to thank with crucial tackles and clearances to stop things becoming embarrassing.

Two mins after the break Facey nearly made it 3-1 when breaking clear and trying to chip Hunter but saw his effort crash off the bar. A free kick by Elam from a narrow angle on 53 mins brought a save from Hunter and a minute later Facey shot wide under pressure from McCarthy after making a brisk run into the box.

Aaron Basi probably should've done better on 67 mins when Alex Cusack's cross found him 10 yards from goal but blazed over. Two mins later though ex-Garforth striker Brice Tiani surely made the game safe. Facey picked up a loose ball on the left wing and crossed into Tiani who was given time to pick his spot and fire into the bottom corner.

Town were struggling to really trouble the home defence and were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply. A first attempt on target of the half finally arrived on 72 mins when Sam Jones' strike from outside the box through a crowd of players was gathered by Brian. Mark Simpson had an excellent chance on 80 mins when let in by a defensive error but his shot lacked power and Brian was there again.

The Miners were on the back foot again soon after however. Cusack hit the post on 82 mins after being picked out in space and four mins later Facey had a shot blocked from a tight angle with the defence asleep. The woodwork was struck again on 89 mins when Sam Bradley's cross-cum shot shaved the far post.

The last attack was Garforth's just before the final whistle when some good work by Jones saw him put through Simpson who shot straight at Brian.

No lack of effort here but a bad day at the office overall. Another game in four days however to put things right; Nostell up next on Saturday.

Sadly no video highlights for this one as Jon couldn't make the game.