Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 1-1 Hall Road Rangers
Jake Vernon celebrates scoring Hall Road’s equaliser. Picture: Lee Myers
Jake Vernon’s stoppage time equaliser earned Hall Road Rangers a point at Garforth Town in an injury-filled clash.
Prodigal son Mark Simpson had won it for Garforth until Vernon intervened.
Both sides suffered injuries. Hall Road lost Fraser Hansen at half-time and then their debutant goalkeeper Steve Janney five minutes into the second half.
For Garforth, Luke Kitson went off at the interval. His replacement Luke McCrum didn’t last long as he was hurt in a collision – which also forced the withdrawal of Dan Coupland.
The game started with a shot from Connor Harman that only just cruised over the bar and with Josh Batty testing the back four, Rangers looked on top. Garforth struggled to create chances and it took a half-time rollicking from Rob Hunter to galvanise them.
The second half contained all the action. Simpson rounded Janney straight after break and only a last ditch off the line clearance from James Piercy kept Rangers level.
Janney was then helped off from the pitch after suffering a nasty ankle injury. With no backup keeper on the bench striker Josh Batty donned the keeper’s shirt.
Batty was relatively untested and the only real moment he was called into action, he had no chance in stopping Simpson from scoring.
That was the difference until Vernon pounced during a scramble.