15.3.2008
Garforth Town were looking to continue their recent run of form with the visit of league leaders Curzon Ashton, avenging their only defeat in seven games in the process. In doing so, the Yorkshiremen emphasised the potential of the team at this level, in imperiously defeating the pace setters and firmly establishing themselves back in the promotion push for the season’s climax.
Curzon boasted a formidable record going into the fixture, with the threat of the league’s top scorer Michael Norton to provide the Unibond acid test for Richard Carrick and Brett Renshaw. Surprisingly, the striker was not included in the Curzon side that took to the field, and the visitors looked correspondingly toothless in the areas of opportunity.
The heavy rain before and during the game made the well maintained home pitch slippery underfoot, with all players visibly careful whilst in possession. This scenario resulted in a low key and tight first half period, though the Miner’s superiority was indicated by the consistent doggedness of the Town midfield, and the way in which the home side were first to every tackle, loose ball and 50/50. Curzon’s Rhodri Giggs was dismissed for an atrocious elbow on Garforth’s Ben Small, who followed the Welshman due to his ill judged retaliation. Shortly after Andy Watson’s headed attempt was adeptly tipped over the crossbar by Karl Spratt, this one of many fine displays of his that may be attributed to the emergence of Gavin Phillis, who has excelled when deputising. Garforth responded with some probing attacks of their own, all of which were thwarted by some desperate defending or an inability to convert the chances earned, perhaps indicative of the lack of a true goalscorer in Town’s team. Garforth pressurised the Lancastrians but were unable to turn their undoubted superiority into a numerical advantage. The half ended goalless, with Curzon severely disheartened and the home side in the ascendancy.
Curzon were clearly riled at their haplessness and ineptitude, and proved tactically improved as they maintained possession for the first part of the second half. Though few goal scoring opportunities were created, the visitors were thus under no pressure, and the impetus Garforth had claimed ebbed away. The Miner’s slowly reclaimed this as Curzon wilted under the pressure and considerable weather and pitch conditions, and on the hour mark an attack minded substitution from Town to introduce Mark Harding and Greg Kelly further damaged the resistance of the men from Greater Manchester.
From the seventieth minute the game became more stretched, with expanses of space created by the drastic change in play. Ashton seemed unable to match Garforth’s fitness, and the unchecked, surging runs from midfield by Duncan Williams, Luis De Melo and the Garforth substitutes were wreaking havoc in the visitors waning defence.
The breakthrough came on 78 minutes when Curzon’s defender Kevin Parr made a last ditch clearance to prevent De Melo scoring. The subsequent corner, a Duncan Williams in-swinger found the head of captain Renshaw at the far post, who steered the ball back across goal to Greg Kelly. The versatile Town man once again proved clinical in front of goal, as his swivel and volley from eight yards found the roof of the net to send the home supporters into delirium.
Curzon offered no real resistance thenceforth, as Town effortlessly preserved their advantage. An incisive move down the right flank was neutralised, and some more last ditch tackles prevented the home side extending their lead, Ashton almost snatched a late equaliser with a stoppage time header, but justice prevailed as Spratt alertly saved the effort and retained the deficit to give Garforth a much needed, and impressively gained, three points to aid and enhance their attempts to gatecrash the end of season play-off party for promotion into a national league for the first time in Garforth Town’s 44 year history.
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