Ombeni Ruhanduka scored a goal of the season contender to put Bridlington in front at Garforth
Bridlington Town and Garforth Town shared the points in a competitive 1-1 draw at Wheatley Park last night.
Gary Allanson’s Bridlington went ahead through Ombeni Ruhanduka’s sensational effort before Garforth pinned them back with a Nick Black equaliser.
Both sides had chances to win the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division clash in the second half, but neither could force a winning goal.
Bridlington headed into the game on a high after a late victory at fancied Worksop Town, while Garforth were on a low note after losing at Silsden in the FA Vase.
The visitors were the more threatening team in the opening exchanges as Tyler Collishaw and captain Tom Fleming saw chances flash wide.
Ruhanduka, or Duka as he is known, submitted a goal of the season contender when he put his side in front on 20 minutes.
Duka had the ball on the edge of the penalty area and he sent a curling effort towards goal. The ball did appear to be going wide until Garforth goalkeeper Ben Hunter watched it sail into the top corner.
Nick Black equalised for Garforth Town
That gave Garforth the wake-up call they needed. Glen Wood forced a low save from Brid’s new goalkeeper James Hitchcock with a long range free kick.
Danny Harris then hit the post. Garforth equalised with eight minutes to go in the first half.
Midfielder Sam Akeroyd’s quick-thinking from a free kick allowed him to send the ball upfield and put Garforth’s leading goal-scorer Black through.
The former Bardsey striker got past his defender and scored his seventh goal of the campaign with an excellent low finish after sending the ball through Hitchcock’s legs.
The second half did not come alive until the final 15 minutes.
Black missed a sitter after putting a straight-forward over the crossbar.
Hunter then made the save of the match to stop Brid snatching all three points late-on. Reeson’s strike from 18 yards through a crowded penalty area seemed destined for the net until Hunter made a great reflex stop.
In the final 60 seconds of the game, both sides could have nicked the points. Duka had a shot deflected wide.
From the resulting corner, Garforth managed the ball and launched a counter-attack with Black sending an attempt just over the crossbar with the last kick of the game.
Read the thoughts of Bridlington manager Gary Allanson and Garforth chief Graham Nicholas on Friday on Non League Yorkshire.
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth (captain), Simpkins, Wood, Alali, McCarthy, Rupere, Akeroyd, Mangham, Harris (Oyebanji HT), Black. Subs unused: Smith, Tonkinson, Hackney, Newbould.
Bridlington Town: Hitchcock, Lewis, Whittingham, Allanson, Nicholls, Jenkinson, Collishaw (Smalley 66), Fleming (captain), Hogg (Reeson 66), Ruhanduka, Birch. Subs unused: Day, Knaggs, Sandall.
Referee: David Sullivan
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 95
Man of the match: Sam Akeroyd (Garforth Town)