In a scrappy encounter it was our visitors who had most of the early chances. Luke Fletcher put a shot wide after two mins and five mins later Alex Rippon made a run through the defence but shot tamely at Garforth keeper Ben Hunter. Shortly after, a free kick was won on the right just outside the box which was delivered in by Danny Buttle that was just about dealt with by the Town defence to deny an attempt on goal.

The Miners came close on 14 mins from a promising counter-attack, Nick Black putting through Luke Mangham who's long range strike was saved at the second attempt by keeper Andrew Sneath, almost letting in an onrushing CJ Lyle. Another free kick from Buttle in a similar position to that earlier after 23 mins caused a scramble in the box and Julian Lawrence almost force the ball in but Hunter was equal to it and in any case the offside flag was raised. Hunter made another save shortly afterwards, this time from Fletcher's powerful effort from just outside the area.

Handsworth seemed different opponents to what we faced back in October's away fixture, one without strikers Danny Critchlow, Lee Whittington and Vill Powell who gave the Town defence such a torrid time. Nevertheless Graham Nicholas' side were given little time on the ball meaning attacks tended to peter out. We did a little better in the final 15 mins of the half but things just weren't coming off up front. A free kick this time for us won by Tawanda Rupere nearly ended in a goal for Mangham but his kick was blocked by the defence and a second attempt from the loose ball was easily collected by Sneath. The final chance of the half came to the Ambers though when a ball forward was headed straight at Hunter.

Some good work by Lyle on 52 mins saw him cross to Black but Sneath was there to gather his shot. Colin Marrison was denied by the legs of Hunter when he broke clear of the Town rearguard a minute later. A decent ball in by sub Liam Royles on 58 mins saw the ball find Lyle who elected to shoot but only to bring a routine save from Sneath. Hunter was called into action again down at the opposite end shortly afterwards, denying Fletcher's low effort.

At this point the game could've gone either way and it was increasing looking like a single goal would settle it. In the absence of any real quality in the final third for either team it would be a slice of luck that delivered it and with that seemingly in short supply for us at the moment it came to the visitors. With Royles looking to have been elbowed in the middle of the park, Fletcher's through ball fell to Rippon who won a challenge with Jack McCarthy to slot the ball past Hunter for the opener.

Rippon should've added a second only a few minutes later after winning the ball from Hunter on the left, but held on to it for too long and his eventual shot was denied by a brilliant block from Rupere. On 71 mins a free kick won in a dangerous position saw captain Garreth Davies fire just over the bar and soon after Nathan Joynes headed over at the far post Buttle's delivery.

On 77 mins a decent ball forward by sub Tim Robertson from the halfway line came to Black but his header wasn't powerful enough to trouble the Amber stopper. It was Black though who looked the most likely source for our equaliser in a good spell in the final minutes of the game. Firstly having a cross-cum-shot saved after good work by sub Mark Simpson. He then came agonisingly close on 89 mins after being picked out by Royles to beat his man and see his strike sail inches wide of the far post.

Handsworth attempted to disrupt proceedings by making two injury time substitutes; Town remained undeterred but the goal just wouldn't come. A couple of corners were won and from one of them Robertson's pacey delivery saw Black head just over the bar to sum things up. The visitors had done enough and were able to leave Cedar Ridge with three points.

Not Garforth's day today and sadly a result we'll have to sit on for 10 days until our next game, at in-form Heanor Town on the 24th (kick-off 7:45pm).