Liversedge 4 Garforth 1

In a line-up largely unchanged from last week’s defeat to Yorkshire Amateur, Lee Turner returned to the first eleven, replacing Jack Lazenby who began a three-game suspension for his red card in that game.

The first half was a poor one from a Town perspective who, amid blustery conditions and against a team of giants, failed to create any chances of note. Oliver Fearon curled a shot just wide for Liversedge on 7 mins. The home side took the lead on 23 mins when Jack Hardacre’s long throw caused hesitation in the Garforth defence, allowing OIiver Fearon to poke the ball past Toby Wells and into the net. Jack Steers headed just wide from another long throw on 38 mins, but we went two behind a minute later. After another Garforth attack that broke down in the final third, Joe Walton broke down the right and delivered to ex-Town striker Paul Walker to tap in at the far post.

The Miners started the second half better, and Sam Denton was unlucky not to get us back in the game when his free-kick rattled the crossbar. Sadly there was little time to keep up the momentum as on 51 mins ‘Sedge were controversially awarded a penalty for an apparent push in the box. Alfie Raw duly stepped up and sent Wells the wrong way to make it 3-0. Joseph Kenny should’ve made it four shortly after when Raw supplied him from the left, but blazed over the bar from a good position. Substitute Charlie Marshall then headed just wide on 65 mins when Sean Hunter’s corner was headed back to him.

It was four on 69 mins when another Hardacre long throw wasn’t dealt with by the Town defence and Walton was on hand to head home. Whilst not lacking spirit, real quality in the final third has been hard to come by for The Miners in recent games. There was a flash of Town at their best on 72 mins in a fine team goal - Marshall and Hunter interchanging passes through the middle and Marshall finishing low past home ‘keeper Josh Hill.

Walton’s looping header from Raw’s cross was just wide on 80 mins, then down the other end Dan Coupland similarly headed off target from Lee Turner’s corner kick. In injury time a 30-yard effort from Joe Colley was turned wide by Hill, then substitute Jake Thompson saw his powerful strike hit the crossbar when finding himself in space on the right.

Paul Marshall's side now find themselves without a win in five games and in real danger of slipping down the table. We have a good chance to end this in a busy couple of weeks starting next Saturday, when Silsden visit the Bannister Prentice Stadium (kick-off 3pm).