Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Hemsworth Miners Welfare 3-0 Garforth Town
Nash Connolly celebrates his second goal of the afternoon
Nash Connolly recaptured his top form as Hemsworth blew Garforth away in 20 minutes to continue their perfect start to the season.
Apart from Connolly’s second goal, it was a exact repeat of the midweek win at Parkgate. Connolly scored in the opening 60 seconds again and Del Pollock struck in the eighth minute again.
Garforth’s opening league game could not have gone much worser. Defensively, for the first quarter, Garforth were atrocious and they gifted Hemsworth all three points.
Without even breaking sweat, Hemsworth were celebrating the deadlock breaker as the unmarked Connolly rose and headed Brice Tiani’s corner past Paul Hagreen.
Goalkeeper Hagreen was the only member of Garforth’s back five to come out of the game with any credit as he was tremendous. But he was continually left exposed.
Nash Connolly heads Hemsworth just 60 seconds into the match
Harry Viggars and Del Pollock react to Connolly’s opener
Pollock soon added the second to Hemsworth’s delight
Brice Tiani was instrumental in the third goal
Garforth goalkeeper Paul Hagreen narrowed the angle, but Connolly still managed to score
Former Leeds United midfielder Simon Walton made his league debut for Garforth
Del Pollock fouls Garforth right-back Sam Leach
Menacing faces: Garforth striker Mark Simpson and Hemsworth defender Cameron Clark battle for aerial ball
Nick Guest came on as a second half substitute for Hemsworth, a day after having a change of heart about joining Ossett Town
Cameron Clark and Rogan Green get tight to Lee Turner
Hemsworth midfielder Sam Jones shoots for goal
The Division One champions exploited this and punished them. Wing wizard Connolly, whose form tailed off during the second half of last season, set up the second for former Glasshoughton striker Pollock. His cross gave Pollock an easy close range finish as not a single Garforth defender was in sight.
It was a similar theme for the killer third. No-one tracked the run of Connolly as Tiani’s sublime pass sent the winger away. Hagreen did well to narrow the angle, but Connolly managed to squeeze the ball home. That was game, set and match.
Hagreen was called upon several more times as half-time approached.
Although Garforth were much better in the second half, it was a case of damage limitation for the Miners.
Mark Simpson created a couple of good chances, as did his replacement Mitch Hamilton, who should have scored from his one-on-one with Wells goalkeeper Sam Leigh.
Hemsworth’s prodigal son Nick Guest, back at the MDC Community Stadium on a permanent basis after having a change of heart about joining Ossett Town, appeared as a substitute and he went close with a smart volley.
The game fizzled out and Garforth clearly have more worries than newly-promoted Hemsworth do.
What They Said
Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager Wayne Benn
Garforth Town manager Rob Hunter
The Teams
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Leigh, Robson, Clark, Swift (Bucknall 75), Viggars, Green, Connolly, Jones, Law (captain), Pollock (Guest 55), Tiani (Henighan 80). Subs unused: Wilson, Hayward.
Garforth Town: Hagreen, Leach, Kitson (Allsop 85), Beaston (captain), McCrum, McMurrough, Stewart (Dwyer 85), Walton, Turner, Simpson (Hamilton 64), Rose. Sub unused: Osbourne.
Who Was In Charge
Lee Hible (10/10)
Stocksbridge-based referee Lee Hible shows a yellow card during Hemsworth’s 3-0 win over Garforth
The Stocksbridge-based official was excellent. He was confident and decisive and it was hard to believe that he has just been promoted.
How Many Were There
TBC
Man of the Match
Nash Connolly
Nash Connolly holds off Mitch Hamilton