Garforth Town striker Curtly Martin-Wyatt fires his side ahead in the 4-3 win over Farsley AFC
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Words and pictures by James Grayson (@jamesAgrayson, @NonLeagueNorth)
With the way they celebrated, you would have thought Garforth Town had won a cup final.
Garforth manager Graham Nicholas was even running down the touchline punching the air as the club’s supporters behind his dugout were jumping up and down waving their Garforth scarfs in the air in celebration.
The euphoric scenes marked Luke Managhan’s last minute winner which gave Garforth a fully deserved 4-3 victory over their Evo Stik Division One North local rivals Farsley AFC in a epic topsy-turvy pre-season encounter at Wheatley Park.
After their recent troubles, Garforth now have a team that they’re proud of and Nicholas’ men put their bodies on the line in the blood and thunder derby clash
The club and its supporters are hopeful of a successful campaign in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division and triumphant Garforth manager Nicholas said: “I’m absolutely delighted.
“Before the game I said to all the lads ‘you are the lads that will go into the season and I want to sign everyone of you’.
“I said: ‘you’ll go out there and put the performance against Frickley behind you’ and they put it right tonight.
“It was a high intensity, high tempo match and there were a lot of players out there showing commitment and desire.
“Both teams wanted to win and regardless of it being a friendly, it was a local derby.
“Anyone watching a pre-season game, you don’t get that tempo and tackling flying in, but tonight it was like a cup final.
“You look at Farsley who have been in the play-offs, they are a fantastic club with great players, but we proved we can perform to Evo Stik level.”
Garforth Town goalkeeper Ben Hunter is beaten for Farsley AFC’s first goal
Nicholas’ comments are the total opposite to his words a full 12 months ago when he slammed his poor Garforth’s side after a defeat to Farsley at Wheatley Park.
Nicholas has built an impressive team since and has high hopes for the 2014-15 season.
His youthful side really took the game in the opening exchanges and deservedly went a goal in front inside the opening ten minutes.
Tawanda Rupere’s good run enabled the midfielder to play a low pass to striker Curtly Martin-Wyatt who finished from 12 yards.
Farsley soon responded with defender Lewis Morgan scoring from a corner.
The visitors were in front on 40 minutes. Aiden Savory’s beautifully taken free kick found the net from just outside the penalty area and Farsley initially looked set to go into the break ahead.
However, Martin-Wyatt took advantage of poor defending to head Garforth level from a corner.
Garforth Town midfielder Sam Akeroyd gets away from Farsley AFC captain Robbie O’Brien
It was in the second half when the game really came alive and became really exciting.
Garforth began the half exactly in the same manner as the first.
Jay Davis kept his composure to score with a low effort and Rupere was then denied by a good save from substitute goalkeeper Jake Lofthouse.
Farsley pegged Garforth back on the hour with former Eccleshill United striker Marcus Edwards lobbing the home stopper Ben Hunter.
Tensions reached boiling point at one point and top local referee Andy Smith had to put his excellent man-management skills to good use to diffuse the situation.
The ball was going from end to end and Garforth were really putting Lofthouse and his defence under the cosh. Davis’ 30-yard rocket seemed destined for the top corner until Lofthouse spectacularly tipped the strike over the crossbar.
Defender Jassim Alali then saw his overhead deflected over the crossbar.
Farsley AFC striker Adam Priestley battles with Garforth Town centre-half Glen Wood
Farsley did have chances themselves with Edwards and the former Garforth striker Adam Priestley seeing shots saved by Hunter.
But, Garforth were the team on top. Farsley were happy to sit back, but Garforth looked dangerous going forwards on every attack.
Davis rattled the post and then saw a ambitious lob saved by Lofthouse as time looked to have run out.
It came at the death, but there was no denying that Garforth deserved their goal. Poor defending saw Managhan free to make a run into the box on the left-wing. Lofthouse raced out, but it was too late as the new Garforth attacking midfielder slid the ball under his legs to win the game.
Almost all the Garforth players ran to the hero to celebrate and the victory rounds off a pre-season campaign – with ten days to go until the new season begins.
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth, Harris, Wood, Alali, Rupere, Hackney, Akeroyd, Martin-Wyatt, Managhan, Black. Subs: Mohammed, Newbold, Ibrahim, Davis, Johnson, Thornton.
Farsley AFC: Taylor, Hardy, Grant, O’Brien, Morgan, Harris, Daly, Priestley, Savory, St Juste, Brownlee. Subs: Edwards, Lofthouse, Dempsey, Riley, Serrant, Hancock, Clamp.
Referee: Andy Smith
Man of the match: Sam Akeroyd (Garforth Town)