Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 2-0 Liversedge
16-year-old Garforth Town striker Sean Hunter scored his first NCEL goal from open play
Record-breaker Mark Simpson upstaged his sixteen-year-old mate Sean Hunter by scoring in his ninth consecutive game for Garforth Town, who gained revenge on Liversedge for a heavy defeat earlier in the season.
The fortunate goal took him past Richard Ramsden’s record of striking in eight straight matches way back in 1997 when Simpson was only three-years-old.
Prior to that, striker Hunter, son of the Miners’ leader Rob Hunter, would have grabbed every headline going following his first NCEL goal in open play – three minutes after coming on a substitute.
The 71st minute strike was all Garforth needed. However, with literally the last kick of the game, Simpson’s heavily deflected free kick crowned a great day for the Miners, who have now won six out of their last seven league games.
The exciting striker had a very quiet game by his recent standards, but he was certainly beaming as he left the field to a hero’s reception.
Well done young man: Rob Hunter congratulates beaming Garforth Town legend Mark Simpson, who broke a 20-year-old record by scoring in a ninth consecutive match
Simpson struck in the 95th minute to break the record
Up until Hunter struck, the match was too close to call. The first half was tight with few chances. Both sides were carved open once – Sam Andrew denied a through Simpson for the visitors, whose new striker Nathan Keightley was only denied by desperate defending from Sam Leach.
‘Sedge will look back at Brandon Kane’s missed chance at the start of the second half as a critical moment. Kane had acres of space on the right-side of the penalty area and some of the crowd thought he had scored when he actually put his effort wide.
Garforth started mounting real pressure on ‘Sedge as the hour passed. Lee Turner went close, while a bizarre shoulder effort from Simpson was tipped onto the crossbar.
Dead balls were causing the most harm for the visitors, who missed suspended key men Vaughan Redford and Steve Wales. A needless foul on playmaker Mitch Hamilton enabled Garforth to go in front. From the left, just outside the penalty box, Hamilton’s free kick caused a scramble and Hunter pounced with a low strike – one of his first touches of the ball after coming on for Turner.
Keightley had Liversedge’s best chance of a nervy finish for Garforth, who certainly lived on the edge during injury-time after conceding two dangerous free kicks.
They survived and fittingly it was left to Simpson to complete the victory.
Mitch Hamilton evades the challenge of Liversedge midfielder Jack McCarthy
Eyes on the ball: Liversedge’s Joe Walton and Garforth’s Luke McCrum in battle
Garforth legend Jack McCarthy, now playing for Liversedge, files into a tackle
Nathan Keightley played well during his full Liversedge debut
An aerial challenge
Mark Simpson almost broke the record during the first half
Mitch Hamilton battles with Liversedge’s Rhys Davies
Simpson bears down on Liversedge goalkeeper Sam Andrew
Garforth went close when Lee Turner fired wide
Liversedge captain Tom Jackson confronts Mitch Hamilton 30 seconds before the opener
Sean Hunter wheels away after scoring the opener
It was an unforgettable moment for Hunter
Garforth close down Pieter Cruz
Huddersfield Town midfielder Alfie Raw made his debut for Liversedge
What They Said
Garforth Town manager Rob Hunter
Liversedge manager Jonathan Rimmington
The Teams
Garforth Town: Hagreen, Leach, Allsop, Beaston (captain), McCrum, Donoghue, Rose, Hamilton (Dhesi 81), Turner (Hunter 68), Simpson, McMurrough. Sub unused: Sunley.
Liversedge: Andrew, Wood, Lumb (Raw 81), Cromack, Wilkinson, Jackson (captain), Davies (Brook 91), Kane, Walton (Cruz 67), McCarthy, Keightley. Subs unused: Pashley, Waggett.
Who Was In Charge
Luke Watson (8/10)
A fairly easy game for the referee, who handled everything in good and relaxed way.
How Many Were There
164
Man of the Match
Jake Rose (Garforth Town)