Garforth 2 Barton Town OB 2

A brace from Mark Simpson wasn't enough to secure a third home victory on the bounce as a spirited Barton side fought their way back to earn a point.

Garforth started the game on fire and a good one-two between Lee Turner and Mitch Hamilton almost gave us the lead in the first minute, the latter getting round the outside of Barton goalkeeper Phil Dobson but finding the side netting. Within a minute though The Miners were ahead. A long punt forward from Paul Hagreen found Simpson who beat a defender and coolly finished past Dobson.

Turner wasn't far off a first Town goal on 10 mins after being supplied by Hamilton, but Dobson was equal to his low strike. Two minutes later though it was 2-0 and Simpson's returning confidence was evident when he picked up a ball through the middle and fired home despite Dobson getting a hand to it.

A couple of minutes later the visitors suffered a further blow when Steve Graham was forced to leave the field with a groin injury.

Simpson was still causing the Barton defence problems, and some excellent work along the byeline saw him pick out Turner just beyond the far post, but it was a difficult angle for the midfielder and he volleyed over the bar.

In the last fifteen minutes of the half Barton started to come into the game, and Hagreen was finally tested on 38 mins, getting down well to deny a powerful strike from Sam O'Malley. In the last couple of minutes Turner was denied by a good block from defender James Williamson, and down the other end Chris Fairhurst thumped wide a loose ball about 20 yards from goal.

In contrast the second half was one in which Town never really settled, giving away the ball in midfield and leaving gaps at the back.

A break forward by Turner ended in Simon Walton stroking the ball just wide of the upright, and a Hamilton free-kick on the edge of the 'D' just cleared the crossbar.

On 56 mins promising young defender Joe Dunnett had to leave the field after being injured in a strong challenge by an opponent, continuing the theme of "Unlucky no 3" which has already seen Chris Simpkins and Luke Kitson sidelined. It did however see a welcome return for Tim Robertson, who replaced him.

Eight minutes later the Swans were back in the game when a slick passing move was finished off by Jonathan O'Callaghan with a good strike at Hagreen's near post.

Despite the setback, a third goal could've seen things end differently and Russ Headley was a whisker away when his long range strike struck the far post. O'Callaghan will have been disappointed not to grab his second for the visitors moments later when he found himself free in the box, but his shot was straight at Hagreen. His teammate Fairhurst made no mistake on 72 mins however, lashing the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards to bring the Lincolnshire side level.

Both teams had chances to grab all three points in the last ten minutes. Simpson was frustrated not to complete his hattrick from Headley's delivery, just failing to get a touch on the ball to divert it past Dobson. Turner was then denied by some good defending after making a run down the left, and then in injury time Hagreen kept the Miners in the game by making a great save with his feet to deny O'Walley.

Rob Hunter's men left the field disappointed to settle for a point, but the unbeaten run continues....