Three former Garforth players: Bradford (Park Avenue) hero Chib Chilaka with Chris Howarth and Jamie Price, the first Avenue captain to lift the trophy since Gary Kershaw in 1991
Bradford (Park Avenue) huffed, puffed and eventually blew Garforth Town down in the West Riding County Cup Final last night at Valley Parade.
Powerful forward Chib Chilaka’s late strike was the only goal of the game as Avenue finally ended a brave effort from the young Toolstation NCEL Premier Division side Garforth.
Former Garforth player Jamie Price became the first Avenue captain to lift the West Riding Cup since the late Gary Kershaw did at the same venue way back in 1991.
That year Avenue, managed by Jim Mackay, needed a last gasp equaliser to force extra-time before going on to canter to a 5-1 victory.
Avenue were only three-years-old then, a reformed club and just a team playing in the lower tier of the North West Counties.
Now they’re a fully fledged powerful Conference North team, full of some of the biggest names in local football.
Plenty of quality was on show so big underdogs Garforth had a huge job on their hands. Missing midfielder Tawanda Rupere, who limped off at Shaw Lane Aquaforce last week, did not help their cause.
The game-plan, to defend and hope John Deacey’s Avenue, who played on Saturday and Monday, tired, worked extremely well and nearly got the Miners to extra-time.
Garforth captain Andy Hawksworth introduces West Riding County FA officials, president Bob Secker and vice-president Eric Beedham to his team-mates and mascots
Garforth striker Nick Black shadows Sam Patterson
Joe Colbeck attempts to set up an attack for Avenue
Graham Nicholas urges his Garforth side on during his side’s defeat in the West Riding County Cup final
Garforth kept Avenue at bay for a long period of time
Garforth’s highly-rated young defender Jack McCarthy wins the battle with Chib Chilaka
Steve Boothman lines up a free kick for Avenue
Bradford (Park Avenue) – 2015 West Riding County Cup winners
Avenue had tons of possession, but were never able to really hurt Garforth in the first half.
Garforth dropped really deep and invited a lot of pressure. It took 20 minutes for Paul Walker to strike the first effort at the Garforth goal, a shot that goalkeeper Ben Hunter tipped over the crossbar.
Avenue also wasted two free kicks in good positions in a frustrating half.
Nothing much changed in the second half. Centre-half Simon Ainge, who was a bizarre choice for man of the match considering the number of chances Garforth had, made a complete mess of a dangerous free kick.
Avenue won a free kick literally on the edge of the box, directly in front of the goal. But, Ainge struck the wall from a position where he should be hitting the target.
Extra-time became a real possibility and Avenue struggled to find a way through. Defensively, Avenue were magnificent and the likes of Jack McCarthy and his defensive colleagues would have been worthy recipients of the man of the match award.
Walker, playing against his old club, went close with 15 minutes to go.
Ultimately Garforth could not hold on and succumbed to the solitary goal after a superb move from Avenue. Richard Marshall and Brad Barraclough exchanged some neat passes and teed-up Chilaka, another ex-Garforth player.
Chilaka used his strength, brushed off two defenders and fired a lethal strike into the far bottom corner.
Graham Nicholas immediately threw on Tim Robertson and Mark Simpson, the destroyer of Harrogate Town in the shock semi-final win at Harrogate Town.
And the Miners came alive and Avenue have a lot to thank John Danby for as their goalkeeper pulled out the save of the match.
A fantastic effort from Garforth’s star striker Nick Black was sailing into the top corner from 25-yards until Danby managed to divert the ball out for a corner.
It wasn’t to be for Garforth. It was Avenue’s night and the long wait was finally ended.
Garforth Town manager Graham Nicholas:
“I have been very proud of them all year because they have been absolutely superb.
“Tonight they gave a very good account of themselves, they worked harder than they have had to before.
“Bradford (Park Avenue) have played on Saturday and Monday so we knew fatigue would be a factor and the game-plan was to try and defend and get to extra-time.
“We were ten minutes away, but a lack of concentration allowed Chib to drop deep and he had a lot of time to finish. It killed us.
“But, I’m really proud.”
Garforth Town: Hunter, Hawksworth, Harris, Smith, McCarthy, Alali (Simpson 81), Jones (Royles 85), Preece, Black, Mangham, Oyebanji (Robertson 81). Subs unused: Lund, Simpkins.
Bradford (Park Avenue): Danby, Patterson (Lever 81), Howarth, Marshall, Ainge, Qualter, Colbeck (King 65), Price (captain), Chilaka, Boothman (Barraclough 55), Walker. Subs unused: Hotte, Drury.
Referee: Duncan Street
Ref Rating: 10/10
Attendance: 595
Man of the match: Jack McCarthy (Garforth Town)