Liversedge goalkeeper Sam Dobbs was in exceptional form in the 1-1 draw with Garforth Town
Sam Dobbs was the hero for Liversedge as his superb performance in the 1-1 draw with Garforth Town laid the platform for a dramatic last minute equaliser.
Dobbs kept his side’s heart beating in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division encounter with a one-man show of goalkeeping brilliance.
Without him, Liversedge would have been blown away long before Liversedge captain Tom Jackson sweetly struck the leveller deep into injury-time to cancel out Sinmi Oyebanji’s first half goal at Wheatley Park.
Garforth had enough chances to win two or three matches – never mind one – but Dobbs showed the qualities that made him a top Evo Stik Division One North goalkeeper last season.
Garforth manager Graham Nicholas was left to rue a home draw with ‘Sedge for the second consecutive season in almost exact circumstances.
After that evening game, Nicholas said Abbott “threw his body at everything” and the same could be said of former Ossett Town stopper Dobbs yesterday.
Mark Simpson had at least five chances, but he couldn’t score past an almost unbeatable Sam Dobbs
Action from Garforth Town 1-1 Liversedge
Action from Garforth Town 1-1 Liversedge
It’s party time: Liversedge assistant manager Mark Greaves, standing in for Alan Colquhoun, had his dancing shoes on as he did a jig of delight when Tom Jackson equalised deep into injury-time
Liversedge, who had conceded 18 goals in their last four games, started poorly and allowed Garforth set the pace.
With a quick front five of Sam Jones, Spencer Lund, Mark Simpson, Luke Mangham and Oyebanji, Garforth looked dangerous and they caused Dobbs problem after problem.
Mangham was blocked off and then Simpson went close with two chances before the deadlock was finally broken.
Great link-up play down the right-wing allowed captain Andy Hawksworth to gain entry to the ‘Sedge penalty area.
Hawksworth ended up ‘in the crowd’ as low cross swept across the six-yard-box and met the feet of Oyebanji, whose clever flick trickled past a stranded Dobbs.
That’s when Dobbs, who was one of the best goalkeepers in the Evo Stik Division One North last season, took centre-stage. His superb save from a Ash Preece header close to half-time was the first of many stops.
Without Dobbs, Liversedge would have collapsed and succumbed to a fifth straight defeat.
Simpson, tipped as a Garforth star of the future this week, was denied three times by Dobbs in the second half.
Simpson was searching for his first goal in a Miners jersey and the striker used his pace and trickery to carve out opportunities, but he found Dobbs unbeatable.
Garforth should have put the game to bed and while the score remained a 1-0, there was always the sense that an unlikely equaliser would arrive.
Liversedge did miss suspended influential striker Andrew Wood, but the big list of experienced players were never going to stop going while the game was still in the balance.
Kieron Corley unleashed a trademark thunderbolt to force Garforth goalkeeper Ben Hunter to palm the ball over the crossbar.
Garforth responded with a Tim Robertson free kick which crashed back off the crossbar.
Nicholas moved Simpson out wide and the attacker was still a thorn in Liversedge’s defence.
Out of nothing, he weaved his way into the box before his nemesis Dobbs managed to deny him once again.
Dobbs had given his side plenty of adrenaline shots during the afternoon and his team-mates rewarded him with the equaliser in the last minute of stoppage time.
Garforth switched off for one vital moment from a long throw-in and former Farsley defender Jackson was able to steer a superbly hit low drive into the bottom corner to dramatically secure a point.
‘Sedge assistant Mark Greaves, who was standing in for on holiday manager Alan Colquhoun, did a jig of delight in his technical area, while Nicholas looked on in disbelief.
There’s no doubt that Garforth deserved to win, but once again a impregnable ‘Sedge goalkeeper was the difference again.
Garforth Town manager Graham Nicholas:
“It was very disappointing.
“Indidivual performances and the players who started did well. They have done everything right.
“Mark Simpson was a nuisance all day from start to finish.
“He didn’t have the rub of the green, but he created the chances with clever moment and he looks a player.
“If he had got one, he could have had two or three quite easily.
“We talked at half-time about taking the game to them in the first 20 minutes and kill the game off.
“If we had got a goal then that would have been game over.
“I said that the longer scenario goes on and they get a set-piece, they might equalise.
“That’s exactly what happened.
“I’m gutted because it is two points dropped.”
Liversedge assistant manager Mark Greaves:
“We didn’t create a lot, especially in the second half.
“We didn’t get near them in the first half. We let them have too much time and let them play.
“We came in at half-time and made a change by going 4-4-2 and bringing Adam on the left-wing and Jameel on the right and we seemed to stop them playing.
“Our goalkeeper Dobbsy has kept us in it.
“We said at half-time to stay in the game because if it is still 1-0 in the 92nd minute we have a chance.
“The long throw-in came in, took a bobble and Tom Jackson hit it with his left-foot into the bottom corner.
“We’re jubilant and it feels like a win, especially with the run we have been on.”
Liversedge’s heroic goalkeeper Sam Dobbs:
“As a team we started poorly and we were encouraged to start quickly, but that went out of the window.
“We grew into the game and we got a bit of a roasting at half-time which I thought was a good call.
“We came out second half and just about controlled the game and probably got what we just deserved.
“I have got to be honest that I didn’t think the equaliser was coming. You start to worry when in the last four games we haven’t scored a goal.
“But we kept pressing and pressing and got the goal.
“I am pleased with my own performance. The gaffer (Mark Greaves) said to me after the game ‘I’m pleased with you today Sam’, but that’s what I’m there for.
“I thought we weathered the storm and the lads grafted and that’s all you can ask for.”
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth (captain), Robertson, Smith, Alali, Preece (McCarthy 80), Jones (Ajaji 63), Lund (Hackney 80), Simpson, Mangham, Oyebanji. Sub unused: Davies.
Liversedge: Dobbs, Dawson, Newton, Rothera, Hope, Jackson (captain), Maskill, Sunley, Hey (Khan 71), Corley, Hilton (Smith 59). Subs unused: Dibb, Scott-Bell.
Referee: Jan Suchecki
Ref Rating: 6/10
Attendance: 102
Man of the match: Sam Dobbs (Liversedge)
The full album of photos from the game will be available on our Facebook page from around midday.