Graham Nicholas and his assistant Neil Jones guided Garforth Town in the West Riding County Cup semi-finals last night
Garforth Town survived a late bombardment to reach the West Riding County Cup semi-finals by beating Silsden 3-2 at Wheatley Park.
The pulsating game, which sprang to life in the second half, was full of wonder goals and an excellent advertisement for the often mocked competition.
Both sides were desperate to win to secure a tie with giants Harrogate Town to fight for a place in the final at Valley Parade.
The 2009 and 2010 winners Garforth showed lots of attacking endeavour – something that missing from Graham Nicholas’ side only a month ago.
Oyebanji and new signing Mark Simpson created numerous problems for the visitors with their flair.
Simpson, signed from Nostell, was at the heart of a lot of Garforth’s chances and was unlucky not to put his new side in front early doors.
Oyebanji broke the deadlock with a blockbuster as half-time approached – the winger bent the ball into the top corner from a seemingly impossible angle.
The locally-based player added another to his tally after the break with another top strike from the left-wing.
Garforth might have thought that a trip to Wetherby Road was signed, sealed and delivered with the boot of Oyebanji, but they were wrong as Andy Geary’s Silsden mounted a comeback.
The travelling support from Silsden, led by a very vocal lady, inspired their team’s fightback and Garforth goalkeeper Ben Hunter had to make several good saves.
Silsden were dangerous from corners and despite his height, Hunter struggled to cope with the ball once it sailed into the six-yard-box.
He was to lucky to escape without conceding direct from a corner on several occasions.
The former Selby goalkeeper could do nothing about Zack Dale’s incredible curling attempt from the edge of the box which crashed into his left-hand top corner.
Instead of sitting back, Garforth kept attacking and they got the reward of the decisive third goal.
Simpson opened the door with his fancy footwork and the ball fell nicely for Luke Mangham, who sent a thunderbolt rocketing into the net as goalkeeper Daniel Thorpe desperately dived to his right.
Silsden finished the stronger side and probably deserved to take the game to extra-time for all their second half efforts.
Garforth defended really well for the large majority of the later stages. Hunter was fortunate again after finding himself in no man’s land which allowed Joe Jamel to lob him from distance.
Garforth captain Andy Hawksworth pulled him out of the mire by heading the goal-bound off-the-line.
Silsden did get their deserved second goal as Ben Crabtree’s free kick went straight in.
Hunter did go onto redeem himself with several good saves as Silsden piled on extreme pressure during the six added minutes.
Nervy, but good defending followed and the jubilant scenes that followed at the final whistle underlined what the semi-final place means to Garforth.
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth, Robertson, Smith, Alali, McCarthy, Rupere, Simpson, Ajayi (Fereday 75), Mangham, Oyebanji. Subs unused: Lund, Preece, Barrett.
Silsden: Thorpe, Moses, Crabtree, Brown, Fagan, Jamil, Wademan, Mitchell, Henderson, Dale (Pickard 86), McNulty. Subs: Hill, Haigh.
Referee: Colin Whittaker
Ref Rating: 9/10
Attendance: 65
Man of the match: Sinmi Oyebanji (Garforth Town)