Toolstation NCEL Premier Division Round-Up
Threadbare Maltby Main staged a remarkable comeback as three goals in eight minutes in the final 20 minutes saw them win 3-1 at Garforth Town to climb to third.
The Main showed heroic passion and character to take all three points in such adversity. Louis Axcell was only able to name two substitutes and he had to make them in the first half. Aiden Nagi hobbled off after literally two minutes. Jed McGowan then suffered a hamstring problem so he was next to leave.
Alex Burton volleyed Garforth in front with a beauty from distance with the last kick of the first half.
The Miners were poor after the interval and they collapsed once as Maltby began to eventually turn the screw.
The perennial hero of the last few weeks – Jonathan Hill – struck hard and low from the edge of the box to equalise.
Mitch Dunne put Maltby on course for victory when he cut in from the left and sent a fantastic low and curling effort beyond the reach of Garforth goalkeeper Toby Wells.
It was now all Maltby and cross from the right met the head of Brad Beatson to seal it.
Garforth’s night went from bad to worse 60 seconds later when goalkeeper Wells was sent off for his challenge on Ryan Smyth outside the penalty area. The video will give definite clarity, but from the side referee Joe Phillips’ long-drawn decision looked questionable. He cannot have sent Wells off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity as there were at least three Garforth defenders surrounding Smyth.
Jonny Irving’s late goal was a mere consolation for Eccleshill United in the 2-1 defeat to Barton Town in the other Premier Division match.