Mark Simpson helped Garforth Town stage a stunning victory at Conference North outfit Harrogate Town in the West Riding County Cup semi-final
The conveyer belt at Garforth Town hasn’t stopped flowing good news in the past 14 days and last night was right up there with the best.
Against the odds, Garforth sensationally booked their place at the West Riding County Cup Final after deservedly winning 2-0 at Conference North giants Harrogate Town.
The stunning victory, against a side three leagues higher, ranks as a huge reward for Graham Nicholas, his team and the huge band of volunteers that have revived a dying club in the past eighteen months.
The result comes two weeks after Brian Close and his consortium took full control of the club from Rupert Lowe.
The takeover triggered a wave of new sponsors and more will probably follow after Mark Simpson and Tawanda Rupere sealed a remarkable win that Harrogate can have no complaints over.
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division side Garforth were undeterred by their underdog status against a very strong Harrogate side and refused to sit back and defend.
The visitors did have to deal with efforts from Dominic Rowe, Lloyd Kerry and Jake Speight, but goalkeeper Ben Hunter dealt with them.
Tawanda Rupere put the finishes touches to Garforth’s path to glory
Simpson, Rupere and Jay Davis all created chances, while Harrogate’s James Walshaw – a few years’ ago Yorkshire’s most dangerous Non League striker – blazed over.
The end to end theme continued as half-time approached. Simpson forced a save out of Phil Barnes before Adam Nowakowski had a half-volley tipped over the crossbar.
Harrogate chief Simon Weaver would have planned his half-time team talk to be catalyst for a Town win.
It did the opposite as Garforth forced the home side into pressing the self-destruct button.
Quick as a flash, a horrendous Rhys Meynell back-pass let Simpson steal the ball and score to put Garforth into a dream position.
Nowakowski did have a shot cleared off-the-line, but the Miners soon doubled the lead as midfielder Rupere’s 25-yard attempt squirmed under the arms of Barnes.
Barnes was involved in more comical defending as he miscommunicated with Leigh Franks over the ball and Simpson narrowly missed out on making the score even more resounding.
Garforth dealt with everything Harrogate threw at them and the night belonged to them.
Garforth will play either Tadcaster Albion or Bradford (Park Avenue) at Valley Parade.
Harrogate Town: Barnes, Nowakowski, Nelthorpe, Franks (Lenighan), Meynell, Turner (Worral_, Kerry (Worsfold), Milligan, Walshaw, Speight, Rowe. Subs unused: Crook. Swain.
Garforth Town: Hunter, McCarthy, Robertson (Simpkins), Smith, Alali (captain), Preece, Simpson (Black), Rupere, Davis (Jones), Mangham, Oyebanji. Subs unused: Lyle, Lund.
Referee: Gareth Mellor
Attendance: 160