In a fairly even first half the first couple of chances came to Long Eaton, sporting a luminescent green away strip and backed by a vocal away crowd. Captain Shaun Rickford headed narrowly wide on 7 minutes from a Michael Armstrong ball in.

A Town free kick in a promising position on 13 mins almost saw a first ever goal for defender Chris Bishop - Josh Greenhalgh floated the ball into the box which Bishop headed just over the bar.

At the other end two minutes later Rickford was causing The Miners’ defence problems again. On receiving the ball from Ben Watkiss he found space between defenders and forced a good stop from Ben Hunter. From a throw in on the right on 29 mins Rickford was denied by the crossbar when given space to turn and beat Hunter.

Only a minute later though Town took the lead with a well-worked goal. Bishop received the ball on the left and picked out Nick Black in space who smashed the ball home past keeper Cameron Mason.

The lead was to last only three minutes – Mark Farthing had an effort blocked by Greenhalgh, the ball fell to Armstrong who shot across Hunter into the far corner of the net.

The Derbyshire side took a crucial lead a minute before half time, but somewhat controversially. From a long throw in by Adam Corrigan Rickford’s header forced a save from Hunter seemingly on the line. The linesman however judged the ball to have gone over and the referee awarded the goal.

Town now found themselves behind and one minute into the second half Greenhalgh almost found a quick equaliser when finding himself one on one with keeper Mason, the Long Eaton stopper doing well to shut him out.

Garforth arguably weren’t at their flowing best today, being guilty of giving the ball away in midfield on occasions, as well as having to remain vigilant to the opponents attacking threat. Around the hour mark they came close a couple of times to grabbing a decisive third. A good break forward saw Rickford force a great save from Hunter with a powerful strike. Another counter attack saw the visitors exploit gaps in the Town defence, Armstrong shooting across goal and wide.

A good piece of football on 71 mins though seemed to inspire the lads to up their game and the last 20-ish mins saw the pendulum swing once more. A cross-field ball to captain Andy Hawksworth saw him go close with a cross-cum shot just wide of the post.

A minute later The Miners were level – a one-two between Tawanda Rupere and Greenhalgh ended in Rupere calmly stroking home for his second goal of the season.

The away side looked to be tiring by this stage but nearly found an equaliser on 84 mins when a right-wing corner from Corrigan flashed across the six-yard box and wide.

Another big decision by the officials brought about the winner two minutes from time when Greenhalgh’s ball into the box was handled by Dominic Allen, the referee pointing the spot. Up stepped Sam Akeroyd who despatched low into the corner.

A spirited showing to earn another three points, and with a successful presentation evening afterwards an enjoyable day all round.