Garforth Town 1 - Chorley 2

5.4.2008

The brave promotional push of Garforth Town indisputably ended today with a farcical loss to Chorley FC at the Genix Healthcare Stadium. The sun eventually gave way to the wind and hailstones, epitomising Town's season which began in such promising fashion in the uncharted territory of the Unibond.

Garforth began the match brightly, with Chris Brown and Greg Kelly an unlikely attacking duo against the rugged Chorley stalwarts. Depleted ranks notwithstanding, Town nevertheless sought to sink their seasoned adversaries and avenge the most blatant of footballing robberies, a despicable act of incompetence and favouritism when Town were denied two valuable points three minutes after the allotted duration of stoppage time.

After eight minutes of play largely dominated by Garforth, a Chorley counterattack saw Adam Farrell allowed room it is imperative defenders should not allow, and his low, poorly hit shot from the edge of the area slid under keeper Karl Spratt, whose despairing save could not prevent an early lead being snatched by the Magpie's. Characteristically, Chorley stole in again like Rhodri Giggs in an opposition changing room, and claimed a second in the11th; Jordan Goodeve bundling the ball home from close range following an ungainly goalmouth scramble. The scramble ensued due to a wrongfully awarded free kick after Chorley winger Pilkington produced a dive that would have left Olympic swimmers awestruck, but regardless, Town were now trailing by two.

Demoralised, Garforth pressed on, but were unable to break the defence bereftof the enormous Liam Coyne. The not-so gentle giant was an unused substitute,but his previous partner in crime, Kieran Fletcher, made his own sizeable presence felt with a series of disgusting challenges that went with apparent impunity.
Chris Brown rose to power a towering header goalwards from a free kick curledby his strike partner Kelly, and Peter Collinge did well to parry. Minutes later, Brown received an aerial ball and penetrated the gap between centre-backs Taylor and Mullineaux to invite the inevitable forthcoming challenge. The athletic referee duly awarded a penalty.

Unibond hotshot de Melo undertook the 12-yard challenge, and the Portuguese playmaker ostentatiously converted the penalty after deluding Collinge with a shimmy. With an hour left to play, the points and even a potential play-offs lifeline were in the balance for the Yorkshire Miner's.

On the stroke of half time, Brown struck the final shot in anger in the formof a 35-yard curl that Collinge saved. The teams trudged indoors as the sun faded.

The second period of play proved to be a fiery, temperamental slugfest as GregKelly was dismissed from the field following the most innocuous of incidents.Soon after, the aforementioned Fletcher was tackled in the Garforth half and deviously kicked Milton Turner when the referee's attention was diverted. The furious Turner tackled an opposition player from behind, and several Town men were booked as they heatedly conferred with the official about the transgression of the sly Fletcher.

Garforth gladly welcomed back the returning Mark Piper, playing again after an incredible assortment of illnesses. Despite not being match-fit, 'Pipú' toiled unselfishly in a defensive position, conflicting with his natural inclinations. With the end of season approaching, it will be relieving for the Garforth staff to have their full compliment of players available, as the absence of Duncan 'Dunga' Williams among others was felt.
On 75, Spratt launched a kick upfield that was met toweringly by Renshaw, and de Melo was through on goal from the resulting flick on. With his second of the game in sight, Luis elected to attempt a chipped finish over Collinge, but the Chorley man was wise to the intentions of the attacker.
With ten minutes left, Town introduced joint-manager Vernol Blair and Anthony Dyson, to the cheers of a section of the support who heckled; 'there's only one Jimmy Grimble'. Jimmy marked his appearance by immediately facing the wrong way, performing a confused pirouette to challenge the header, as the youngster endured the laughter of the crowd.
Despite the reinforcements, Garforth were unable to mount the decisive,incisive attack to pierce Chorley's hardened hide, as the visitors made their numerical advantage count in defence. Their fans did not endear themselves at the climax of play, as one buffoon perplexingly squirted the referee with water and bad-mouthed home supporters despite the success of his team, but Garforth must now rinse away the distasteful aftertaste of the Magpie hordes of Lancashire and look to finish their season on a high, thus sounding the warning signal for the year to come as they look to take the Unibond North division by storm.