Garforth 1 Bottesford Town 0

A Mark Simpson penalty was enough to defeat twelfth placed Bottesford as Rob Hunter's side continued their late-season revival.

In truth The Miners probably should've won by a higher scoreline after missing some glorious chances in the first half, but it was a solid performance nonetheless against a side we've struggled against in the last couple of seasons.

There was only one change on Saturday's win over Goole; goalscorer in that game Joe Colley replacing Aiden Kearsley in midfield.

Helmo Silva came close to putting Town ahead on five minutes, showing great skill to beat Jamie Ture on the left wing and race clear, but his shot from 20 yards went wide. The visitors were in with a good chance of their own five minutes after that when Henry Cook saw his low strike blocked on the line by Toby Wells; the loose ball dropping to Jack Bowskin in a crowded box who's bicycle kick was just off-target.

In a good spell of pressure for The Miners a big chance to open the scoring arrived on 13 mins when Bottesford keeper Jordan Douglas parried a low shot from Simpson into the path of Dan Williams in space who could only fire high over the bar. Joe Colley put a low drive just beyond the far post after a right wing cross was only half-cleared, and Simpson was in there again shortly after when beating the offside trap, but shot straight into the arms of Douglas. Silva headed just wide from Matthew Wilkinson's cross on 35 mins, then it was Simpson getting on the end of another Wilkinson delivery moments later; blazing over in the six-yard box when it looked easier to score.

The last chance of the half fell to Bottesford's Ben Johnson who curled a shot just over the bar after doing well to create space for himself on the edge of the box.

Garforth were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute when Simpson was tripped in the box by Nathan Smith. Our top scorer took the mantle and redeemed himself for his earlier misses by coolly sending Douglas the wrong way to give us the lead.

Some dangerous play from the Poachers ended in their best chance of the game on 68 mins when Johnson's cross picked out Henry Cook who's deflected shot was over the bar. Kane Bingley saw a 25-yard free kick claimed by Douglas on 78 mins, before team-mate Wilkinson was put clear by Williams, but his resulting chip went over. Substitute Connor Hicken came close to a first goal for the club on 83 mins with a fine curling strike deflected inches over the crossbar.

There was late drama in injury time when we were penalised for a pass-back with an indirect free-kick inside our penalty box. Town stood firm however; the eleven players amassed on the goal-line managing to repel Dayle Hutson's drive and prevent any points heading back to Lincolnshire.

A third win in four games for The Miners who move up to 14th place in the table (we know it so well...). Two away games up next to bring 2018-19 to a close, starting with a visit to league champions Worksop Town on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).