Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Pickering Town 5-1 Garforth Town
- Pickering continue their recent good form, while Garforth’s defensive woes come to the fore again.
- George Conway scores on his Garforth debut, hours after joining from Tadcaster Albion.
Midfielder James Bennett was the man of the match in Pickering Town’s 5-1 win over Garforth Town
A midfield masterclass from James Bennett and some clinical finishing saw Pickering Town pummel Garforth Town at Mill Lane.
Two goals in five first-half minutes from Calum Ward and Bennett saw the Pikes on their way to a convincing victory, their fourth in five games in all competitions.
Garforth set out with intent, but struggled to contain Mitch Hamilton and Joe Danby down the flanks, who both got their names on the scoresheet after the interval.
The Miners’ new signing George Conway, brought in from Tadcaster Albion, was a rare bright spot and netted a deserved consolation in the closing moments.
Adie Costello’s side have conceded three goals or more in their last five outings, and their defensive frailties were there for all to see.
Hamilton forced visiting captain Jassim Alali into a desperate goal line clearance early on and former Glasshoughton goal-getter Ward should have opened the scoring but dragged his one-on-one wide of Ben Hunter’s far post.
Ward’s ex-boss at Welfare, Garforth assistant manager Rob Hunter, watched on as his former charge placed a right-footed finish into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 after 31 minutes.
James Bennett, belying his heftiness with deftness and dexterity with ball at feet, set up the opener and got in on the act with a left-footed effort from close range to double the advantage five minutes later.
Mick Jones and Liam Hardey both tested Toby Wells but the Miners were fighting the tide after the second goal went in.
Conway can drop his shoulder and beat most defenders at this level but few were on his wavelength. Jordan Outerbridge looked lively from the right, in spells.
They were met by an increasingly stout Pikes rearguard. Wells commanded his area superbly, galloping out of goal to smother Scott’s shot. Nial Tilsley is a dependable and committed defender, Matty Turnbull rarely puts a foot wrong and George Bissett looks like a natural centre-half, despite trying- and nearly succeeding- to lob the keeper from 60 yards.
Joe Danby started at left-back but ended at left-wing, from where he netted a brace, both in the box, within three minutes late on. This came after Mitch Hamilton had fired home a rebound.
With seven minutes to play, Ben Hunter’s goal-kick beat everyone but Conway who was on hand to swoop in and finish a consolation.
Four successive home games lie in wait for Paul Marshall’s Pickering, who look to have a settled squad ahead of a crucial run of games.
Costello, on the other hand, must be looking shuffle his pack and revamp his defence, starting away at Worksop, of all places, on Wednesday night.
Pickering Town: Wells; Tilsley (captain), Turnbull, Bissett, Danby; Hope (Foster), Taylor, Bennett (Lingard); Dalton (Kamara), Ward, Hamilton.
Garforth Town: Hunter; J Alali, Winn, Jones, Simpkins (Carter); Outerbridge, Lund (K Alali), Hardey, Robertson; Conway; Scott
Referee: Tony Peart
Referee Rating: 6/10
Attendance: 123
Man of the Match: James Bennett (Pickering Town)
One of the better referee performances yesterday, deserved a 9 at least!