Andy Hawksworth scored the winner for Garforth against Parkgate
Stand-in captain Andy Hawksworth scored a late winner as Garforth Town overturned an early 2-0 deficit to beat Parkgate, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
After just 13 minutes strugglers Parkgate had taken a comfortable lead through Scott Whittington and Ben Langford. Connor Bower pulled one back for Garforth and 15 minutes into the second half flair player Sinmi Oyebanji equalised.
The Toolstation NCEL Premier Division clash looked set to finish in a stalemate until Hawksworth intervened and Garforth head coach Graham Nicholas said: “I think we deserved it.
“In the first half I think we were sloppy and they caught us on the break. They set their stall out early and played a 5-3-2 formation and looked us to get us on the counter attack.
“They knocked the ball over the top and down the channels and that’s what they played all night.
“They were quite physical and in the first 15 minutes I thought that although we went behind, we were playing good football and had started well.
“Overall I’m pleased with the performance, but disappointed we conceded the two goals. However, it was a fantastic win.
“At half-time when we were 2-1 down I think we missed a rock in the centre of midfield, someone who can compete with their game so we moved Mitch Boland there.
“At 2-2 I believed we could do. Obviously towards the end I was thinking it wasn’t going to happen, but we kept going and kept believing and I think it was well-deserved.”
Garforth had done the most probing in the opening few minutes when Parkgate struck with their first sucker-punch. Garforth were caught by a long punt downfield and new goalkeeper Michael Bathurst, making his first league appearance, was slow off his line and Whittington nipped in to place the ball into the net.
The second goal also came against the run of play. After finding a bit of space down the right wing, Whittington was able to cross the ball into six-yard box. Langford was there ready and waiting and he applied the simple finish.
Connor Bower pulled the first goal for Garforth
Garforth’s team containing American debutant Taylor Reis and C J Lyle, responded on the half hour mark. Logan McDaniel played a sublime through ball which sent Bower sprinting away from the Parkgate defence. Bower, who scored his first Garforth goals last week, took the ball past goalkeeper Richard Watson and was able to fire it into the empty net.
Parkgate defended well at times and were an organised side, but the quality that Garforth possess going forward meant that the Miners looked certain to score an equaliser.
McDaniel found the side-netting with a shot from a tight angle before Oyebanji struck on the hour mark. The Parkgate defence backed off the winger and he elaborately curled a low effort into the bottom corner.
Garforth continued to press for the winner, but were unable to carve a real chance until the 85th minute. Parkgate had failed to clear from a corner and when McDaniel played a neat pass to Hawksworth, the defender found himself in an unfamiliar position.
Goalkeeper Watson reacted quickly, but Hawksworth kept his composure by driving the ball low and hard past the stopper and into the net.
There was still time for Parkgate to nearly equalise. Hawksworth was the Garforth player left exposed at the back and Whittington was able hold him off before powerfully striking the ball at goal.
Unfortunately for the striker, the ball cannoned back off the crossbar and Garforth managed to hold for the three points during the five minutes of stoppage time added on by referee Brian McGill, whose performance was excellent.
Garforth Town: Bathurst, Kirk, Robertson, Hawksworth (captain), Boland, Akeroyd, Oyebanji (Rosenstraugh 80), McDaniel (Coyle 91), Lyle, Reis, Bower. Subs unused: Helliwell, Woodhall.
Parkgate: Watson, Emson, Bond, Wesley (captain), Plant, Lowe, Langford, Linacre, Foltyn-Brown (Wragg 63), Whittington, Dawson (Stuart 76). Subs unused: Simpson, Sidebottom, Lowe.
Referee: Brian McGill
Attendance: 51
Man of the match: Taylor Reis (Garforth Town)