Garforth 1 Silsden 0

Whilst there'll be better footballing displays from Town this season, they showed a battling quality likely to be much-needed for what's set to be a highly competitive division.

Manager Paul Marshall was able to name an unchanged side from Saturday's FA Vase win, with an added bonus in the return from injury of midfielder Joe Colley who was named as a substitute.

Garforth enjoyed the better of the early chances, with Lee Turner coming close on 7 mins with a well-struck effort which went just over the crossbar. Moments later Dan Coupland headed wide a Jack Lazenby free-kick, then on 26 mins Charlie Marshall shot straight at Silsden 'keeper Alfie Darke after good work by Turner down the right. Turner was involved again two minutes later in what was our best chance of the half, forcing Darke to tip over the bar when picked out by Sam Leach's delivery.

The visitors posed a threat on the break and came close themselves to opening the scoring on 31 mins when Khurram Shazad's 25-yard strike went inches over the bar.

The second half ebbed and flowed as it looked increasingly likely a single goal would prove decisive. Four minutes in, Alex Burton found the net when he met Turner's cross and flicked the ball over Darke, but the offside flag was raised. There followed a couple of chances for The Cobbydalers; Toby Wells saved at the near post a Leon Hurles-Brook effort, before Liam Hudson's shot from close range was cleared off the line after pinball ensued from Antony Brown's cross into the 18-yard box.

Hurles-Brook was brilliantly denied by Wells on the edge of the box after he raced clear on 74 mins, before Marshall's curling strike at the other end was just wide of the far post. Substitute Dylan Droui looked to have put the visitors ahead on 82 mins after a free-kick was deflected into his path, but he fired against the side netting. Instead, a minute later, it was The Miners who found the winning goal when Sam Barker fed Jack McGahan's delivery to Lazenby who struck low into the bottom corner of the net.

A solid defensive performance helped ensure there was to be no further late drama, and there was a good chance for Burton to double our lead a minute before time when supplied by a ball over the top, but his shot was straight at Darke.

We're on our travels for our next game this Saturday when we visit Goole AFC (kick-off 7:45pm).