Garforth’s Tawanda Rupere battles with Retford captain James O’Neill
A late Richard Medcalf goal rescued a point for Retford United in their pulsating Toolstation NCEL Premier Division draw with Garforth Town at Wheatley Park, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Garforth head coach Graham Nicholas described the game as “very entertaining for a neutral” after seeing his side pegged back twice by a Retford team that are in the running for the title once again.
Stephen Simpson, making his first appearance for almost a month, scored twice for Garforth, but former Bradford City winger Ben Muirhead and Medcalf earned a point for the 2012 champions.
Garforth had chances to kill Retford off and striker Josh Cartman should have given them a commanding 2-0 lead on 50 minutes.
He hit the post and then Retford had to rely on goalkeeper Jody Barford’s in the final minutes to ensure a draw and Garforth chief Nicholas said: “On reflection of things I suppose it was a fair result. It is disappointing not to win and get the three points.
“I think overall we were the better team, but our mistake led to the first goal. The goalkeeper called for it and nine times out of ten Andy (Hawksworth) would have put his foot through it. It’s gone straight to their striker and they got the equaliser.
“It was then a positive response to go 2-1 up and from then I thought we would crack on and get the three points. But we got a couple of injuries so we made a couple of changes and we looked a little unbalanced at times.
“It is games like this where you need the luck and today it hasn’t gone for us.”
Connor Bower asks for the ball
Garforth were the stronger team in the opening half-hour and were looking lively on the counter-attack. Connor Bower, recently released by Bradford City, had the means and opportunity to give Garforth the lead after racing away from the Retford defence. Bower went one-on-one with ex-Miners stopper Barford and somehow managed to place the ball wide of the goal.
Within minutes Simpson made up for Bower’s horrendous miss with the opening goal. On the right-wing, Simpson teased full-back Danny Smith before cutting inside and curling a rasping shot into the top corner from a tight angle – a goal reminiscent of his strike against Bridlington Town in August.
Retford finished the opening half as the stronger team and only two exceptional stops from Canadian goalkeeper Karl Martens kept the visitors at bay.
Whilst Retford were on the front foot as the first half closed, they were on the back one at the start of the second. Garforth were quick out of the blocks and within 60 seconds Tawanda Rupere had given Barford a fright with dangerous effort.
That was the signal for more danger to come and Retford will openly that they were lucky not to concede again moments later. Gary Stohrer barged his way into the penalty area and upon encountering the onrushing Barford, the right-back passed to Cartman who seemingly had a simple tap-in. However, despite striking the ball low and hard, the striker somehow hit the post which allowed Retford to clear the ball.
Stephen Simpson takes on defender Danny Smith
Retford responded by bringing their prolific goalscorer Liam Wilkin on as substitute on the hour. Wilkin has got 12 goals already this season and recently scored four in Retford’s 6-1 victory at Glasshoughton Welfare.
On this occasion Wilkin did not get his name on the score-sheet, but within three minutes of coming on, Retford equalised. Garforth failed to clear the ball from a free kick and Muirhead was able to bend the ball past Martens from the edge of the box.
Garforth restored their lead quite quickly – Simpson again the goalscorer with a tap-in after Barford had parried the ball.
Despite the goal Retford refused to the towel in as captain James O’Neill hit the crossbar and Wilkin was denied by a Martens save before the equaliser on 80 minutes. Muirhead crossed for Medcalf and the striker had an easy finish from close range.
Josh Greenhalgh avoids the tackle from Craig Aspinall
Wilkin came close to stealing all three points for Retford with a lob that hit the side-netting, but it was Garforth that finished the game as the stronger team in a frantic last three minutes.
Barford prevented Cartman from scoring from a powerful long range strike and with Retford defending poorly, Garforth had one more chance.
Stohrer sent a superb cross into the penalty area and Logan McDaniel was inches away from scoring with a header that flew just wide of the far post. The reaction of Nicholas and the Garforth supporters told the story of how close the American had come to scoring.
That was the last opportunity of a game that was full of drama and Nicholas added: “It was a brilliant game and if you’re a neutral it was very entertaining.
“It was end-to-end and there was value for money. It was a superb game.”
Garforth Town: Martens, Stohrer, McDaniel, Allen (captain), Hawksworth, Hilton, Simpson (Boland 75), Rupere, Cartman, Greenhalgh (Martin-Wyatt 75), Bower. Subs unused: Akeroyd, McMurrough, Bathurst.
Retford United: Barford, Lucas (Cross 66), Walkden, Fisher, Cooper, O’Neill (captain), Aspinall (Thompson 90), Medcalf, Holmes (Wilkin 60), Muirhead. Subs unused: Severn, Johnson.
Referee: D Sullivan (South Yorkshire)
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Stephen Simpson (Garforth Town)
Match Photos are HERE