Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 3-2 Maltby Main
Casey Stewart scored the winner for Garforth Town
Is this the turning point for Garforth Town after a difficult ten months? Rob Hunter will hope so after 17-year-old Casey Stewart fired the Miners to a priceless first league victory of the season with the late winner.
The Miners won the topsy-turvy clash with Maltby, just days after the 3-0 humbling at Hemsworth.
Only three changes were made to the side, with Simon Poole, Russ Headley and Mitch Hamilton coming in for Sam Leach, Jack McMurrough and Jake Rose.
Maltby also made slight alterations and Adam Roberts and Sam Stacey were given their NCEL debuts.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the better first half and Ryan Carroll’s run down the left enabled Shawn Mitchell to score in the 12th minute.
Luck began to change for Garforth early in the second half. Mark Simpson got their fans bouncing when he pounced on the rebound from former Leeds United midfielder Simon Walton’s 20-yard blast.
It got even better as Headley put them in front with a neat finish on the hour.
Garforth’s pursuit of a third goal was initially fruitless as young Maltby goalkeeper Danny Rusling kept them at bay and that enabled the Main to equalise through Ollie Lawrence.
Garforth refused to settle for the draw and they got their reward. The substitute Matty Johnson had his shot blocked, but the ball dropped nicely for Stewart to side-foot home.
What They Said
Maltby Main manager Spencer Fearn
“I thought we were superb in the first half, but lacked that same quality and desire in the second. The goals were all avoidable. But huge credit to Garforth with how they responded in the second half.
“We are in the midst of an injury crisis at the moment with some big players missing with impact injuries. I have never known so many be out injured in the 13 months at the club. But we will crack on and expect another tough test this weekend in the local derby at Armthorpe and hopefully a couple more senior lads back.”
The Teams
Garforth Town: Hagreen, Poole, Kitson, Headley, McCrum, Beaston (captain), Turner, Walton, Simpson, Hamilton, Stewart. Subs: Leach, Dwyer, Johnson, Dunnett, Smith.
Maltby Main: Rusling, Roberts, Mitchell (Callum Cheetham 45), Reilly, Greaves, Mitchell, Yousefi (Gregg 70) Poole, Carroll, Hemmingway, Stacey (Lawrence 54).