Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 2-1 Handsworth
Hero James Burgess scored an incredible overhead kick right on full-time as Garforth Town staged a remarkable comeback to keep their top two hopes alive.
During the scenes of euphoria, a galloping Paul Marshall even raced 20 yards with the rest of his management team and substitutes to mob Burgess, who had equalised just minutes earlier to seemingly rescue a point.
The ending was cruel on Handsworth who had defended heroically in a bid to protect the lead given to them in the first half by captain marvel Rikki Paylor.
The Ambers will also feel hard done as the goal came after the indicated minutes of injury-time were up. There appeared to be a foul in the build-up as well.
The match was the rearranged clash of the abandoned December battle.
Garforth were leading 2-0 in that encounter and Handsworth were down to ten men as Paylor had been sent off.
So there was a lot of irony when Paylor volleyed home from close range from Leon Howarth’s ball across goal in the 28th minute.
Garforth responded strongly and Handsworth goalkeeper Ben Townsend made smart saves from Dan Coupland and Burgess.
Handsworth had one chance to snatch the killer second goal in the second stanza when goalkeeper Toby Wells denied Howarth.
Garforth had their visitors camped deep in their own half for long periods and there were plenty of ‘body on the line’ blocks throughout the second half.
Eventually the pressure told as Burgess found the bottom corner with a low shot from 18 yards in the last minute.
A draw was a fair result but nobody thought Garforth had enough time to steal maximum points.
That was until Burgess did the impossible with an unforgettable, astonishing, magical and outrageous goal.
The Teams
Garforth Town: Wells, Terhaerdt, Omosebi, Ejupi, Denton, Barkway, Marshall, Coupland (captain), Burgess, Turner, Colley. Subs: Gorji, Silva, Zanos, Zachariou, McGahan.
Handsworth: Townsend, Mackie, Tootle, Paylor (captain), McFadyen, Smith, Flint, Harrison, Howarth, Reece, Eyles. Subs: Parker, Wade, Baldwin, Kenyon, Essien.
Who Was In Charge
Arran Williams (6/10)
How Many Were There
119