Garforth Town 1-0 Nostell Miners Welfare
A first half tap-in from Garforth Town striker Curtly Martin-Wyatt settled the lively clash with Nostell Miners Welfare in East Leeds.
The result was harsh on Nostell who just simply could not score despite tons of chances – highlighting the problem that Jason Dodsworth and Simon Houghton spoke of on Wednesday.
Torrential rain may have put off spectators, but not the players as they gave everything required if you want to have a successful season.
Garforth broke the deadlock early doors – thanks to some poor defending and fantastic perseverance from young starlet Joe Colley. Nostell defender Brad Kilburn had the ball on the edge of his penalty area and all he had to do was clear. Instead he differed and Colley, like someone blocking a drop goal attempt in Rugby League, charged him down. The midfielder took the ball to the byline and crossed low and hard to Martin-Wyatt to do the rest.
In some respect, the goal was deserved as 60 seconds earlier, Martin-Wyatt had hit the post after racing through on goal.
Nostell’s response was very good. Adam Hayton was desperately unlucky with a long range volley that flashed over the crossbar. Jack Owen also carved out a great opening, but no-one was there to place the ball home at the back-post.
Garforth always looked threatening going forward in the second half, but Nostell created the better chances and had enough to equalise. Wing wizard Richard Collier, twice got into great shooting positions, but failed to hit the target.
When he later did send the ball hurtling into the top corner, in the dying seconds, replacement Garforth goalkeeper Stephen Weatherill pulled off the save of the match to tip the ball over the crossbar and win it for the home side.