Garforth Town 0-1 Barton Town

Garforth's winless run extended to four games after a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Barton Town.

A depleted Garforth line up saw full league debuts for Helmo Silva and Matt Robertshaw, with four key players being suspended for the game. Several players also had to fill in out of position.

With ten minutes played Garforth keeper Pete Lawrie claimed a deep Barton free kick, which was the first time either keeper had been called into action. His opposite number Jody Barford would also have a save to make soon after, as he caught Lee Turner's swinging cross.

The next chance of the game fell to Mark Simpson, who turned, but shot far wide of the post.

Not long after, Barton had the lead. Their right back James Williamson whipped in a cross from the right corner, and it fell to Lewis Clarkson, who after a couple of touches, managed to finish past Lawrie to make it 1-0.

The visitors kept putting pressure on Garforth shortly after the goal, and Lawrie had to make an excellent save after a ball came back in from a corner. Seven minutes later he made another save, this time thwarting Will Waudby.

Possibly Garforth's best chance of the first half came when Mitch Hamilton's cross found Ryan Donoghue. The centre back rose, with a couple of yards of space, but his header went just wide of the far post as he directed the ball back across goal.

Turner also had an effort in the first half, but his long shot went over. A minute later Silva dribbled into the box but his pass was unable to find a teammate, and the chance had gone.

The first ten minutes of the second half were busy for Lawrie, and it was beginning to become difficult to find new adjectives to describe the quality of some of his saves. He stopped Clarkson at his near post, prevented Leigh Hutchinson with his feet, and smartly turned another shot around for a corner.

On 64 minutes Development Team player Raul Fletcher was introduced into the game as a substitute, for his first team debut. His first action was to win a corner after his cross was blocked.

With twenty minutes to go, captain for the day Dan Coupland had a shot, which went for a corner. From the resulting set piece came a flurry of activity, which eventually ended up with Turner's shot being blocked.

Next, Hamilton dribbled through a couple of Barton defenders, but shot wide.

Then came Garforth's best chance of an equaliser, as Coupland played in Mark Simpson, who rounded the keeper but missed the target. It had been a frustrating afternoon for Simpson and his strike partner Jamie Reeson, as Garforth were struggling to create chances for them.

On 83 minutes Lawrie was once more to thank for Garforth as he saved a low free kick. Next, Coupland again put in Simpson, but the forward was stopped by the Barton defence.

Even with five minutes signalled for injury time, Garforth couldn't create an equaliser and it meant Barton went away with all three points. Back to the drawing board for the Miners then, with Bottesford Town the next opponents, away next Saturday.

By Samuel Bannister