Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 1-1 Penistone Church
James Burgess was Paul Marshall’s and Garforth Town’s hero once again after scoring the equaliser with literally the last kick of the game as Penistone Church went from euphoria to devastation in the space of five minutes.
Just moments earlier, the ladies watching had got their money’s worth by seeing the musclier frame of the bare-chested Eddie Newsome jump into the arms of Penistone manager Steve Lenthall.
The substitute thought he had hit the dramatic winner and kept his side’s promotion dreams alive.
But Garforth, whose own second place hopes looked up in smoke, went for broke and Burgess headed them level to rescue a deserved point and totally end Penistone’s chances of finishing second.
Most of the Church players sank to their knees. Even Lenthall and his assistant manager John Whitehead looked speechless and they had hands on their head for several minutes.
For Garforth boss Marshall, at least his 1000th game in management can be remembered for memorable reasons.
Watched by the one of the biggest crowds at Garforth since the glory-laden Simon Clifford era, a draw was a fair result.
That said, had Garforth brought their shooting boots, they could have had a hatful.
The first half was tense with few chances but Garforth were really on the ascendancy after half-time.
Burgess went close a couple of times while visiting goalkeeper Chris Snaith denied Joe Colley.
Hass Gorji perhaps had the best chance as he went down the right-side of the penalty area and placed the ball wide when bearing down on Snaith.
Penistone had good opportunities themselves on the counter-attack. Toby Wells had to make at least two fine stops.
Tension best describes the last ten minutes.
Both teams were in a position where really they had to go for it if they wanted to stay in the race for the top two.
Penistone thought they had nicked it when Newsome sent a rocket into the top corner.
That was in the 90th minute and hope for Garforth looked lost especially when Charlie Marshall fired wide.
But Burgess had other ideas.
The striker has been like the Messiah since returning from Tadcaster Albion and if the Miners do get promoted, his status as a club legend among the likes of Greg Kelly, Brett Renshaw, Mark Simpson and Simeon Bambrook is assured.
Burgess leapt to head past Snaith and spark jubilation for Garforth fans but inflict despair on the visitors.
What They Said
Garforth Town manager Paul Marshall
“I didn’t think they deserved to beat, I thought a draw was a fair result.
“When they scored you think ‘flipping ‘eck, it is over and done with’.
“But we don’t give in and we have never given all season and we always go right to the end.
“It was a great ball by Karl Fitzgerald and Burg who had a quiet game, got a lovely glancing header.”
Penistone Church manager Steve Lenthall
“I think a draw was a fair result.
“When you score in the 90th minute, you think you’re going to win the game.
“It is an hard one to take and you can see by our reaction, it is like a defeat.
“If anyone had said ‘you’d come to Garforth and take a point’, you’d probably snap their hand off with the form they are in.
“The equaliser was literally the last kick of the game as he blew the whistle as soon as they scored.”
The Teams
Garforth Town: Wells, Zachariou, Omosebi, Fitzgerald, Denton (captain), Terhaerdt, Marshall, Zanos, Burgess, Ejupi (Turner), Colley (Gorji). Subs unused: Barkway, Tufenkian, Silva.
Penistone Church: Snaith, Charlesworth (Johnson), Young, Ellis, Hughes, Lovell (captain), Coduri, Firth (Newsome), Keightley, Ryan, High (Kemp).
Who Was In Charge
Charles Mulhall (10/10)
How Many Where There
432
Man of the Match
Daniel Omosebi (Garforth Town)
