2.2.2008
Garforth successfully halted their recent losing streak with a hard fought score draw against Lancashire outfit Lancaster City FC at the Giant Axe stadium. The Miner’s side, revitalized with the temporary managerial return of Simon Clifford and fired up by the prospect of recapturing the hard work ethos of early season, duly produced a battling performance on which to build on in the coming fixtures.
The opening stanza offered some tit for tat exchanges between two teams clearly comfortable at this level of football, and both were able to operate to almost their best abilities. City, who were a Blue Square Conference team as late as last summer, had the best chance of the first ten minutes of play when a headed attempt from a curled free kick was expertly dealt with by stand in goalkeeper Gavin Phillis. Greg Kelly was booked after an ill timed lunge, doing nothing to improve Garforth’s disciplinary record, and the subsequent free kick was met by Lancaster claims for a penalty. Town answered with some penetrative wing attacks, and the entertaining first quarter of an hour was concluded when a spectacular overhead shot was parried over by Phillis.
The sprucely suited Clifford endured insulting chants of ‘Who the ******* **** are you?’ from a section of the Lancaster support, and responded with similar sentiments.
After a short period of bruising midfield clashes, Duncan Williams curled a high free kick into the Lancaster area, which would have resulted in a goal due to the unresponsive City defenders were it not for the goalkeeper proving himself adept under pressure, decisively claiming the ball. Lancaster immediately conceded possession from the ensuing up-field kick, and a through ball to Mark Piper saw the BSS graduate force the keeper into an impressive save. The curled corner was met by Chris Brown, who directed a header back across goal and past the stationary defenders. Brown’s second goal in consecutive games sent Garforth’s travelling contingent into raptures, who showed their appreciation with a rendition of ‘there’s only one Chris Brown’.
Lancaster responded to the set back, and upped the ante with exclusively ground based attacks from the wings. Phillis made another eye-catching save from a header put back across his goal, which he managing to reflexively divert wide despite his momentum carrying him away from the ball. The City no. 7, donning a fetching Alice band, volleyed over from close range and the Lancashire side were slowly claiming the ascendancy. Town withstood the pressure and fought back at the climax of the half.
A neat passing movement on the left flank between Mark Piper, Seb Muddel – making his final appearance for the club – and Chris Brown allowed Chris an opportunity to extend his goal tally. Brown fiercely swung his left foot in an attempt to volley the ball into the Lancaster net – yet his foot found both the ball and the abdomen of an unfortunate City defender who intercepted the shot. With the incapacitated player writhing on the floor, Williams coolly slotted the ball into the Lancaster goal but the referee, perhaps deciding that to permit the perfectly legal goal would likely incite a riot, disallowed the effort. Garforth nevertheless ended the first period of play a goal to the good.
The second half would prove to be more of a battle of physicality, as the midfielders of the game intensified their approach to tackling and possession gaining. After four minutes of resumed play Brown won the ball on the right and set Piper free, who unselfishly squared across the box to Williams. Duncan out-muscled his challenger to position himself to score, but was denied by a last ditch tackle from a City centre back.
Williams would again take advantage of his more advanced role for the second half and try his luck in front of goal, running from midfield before narrowly missing the target with a shot from 18 yards.
Garforth were now undeniably in the ascendancy both physically and football wise, and it was against the run of play that Lancaster equalised on the hour mark with a thunderous top corner shot from Tom Entwistle. The well taken goal was unfair on gutsy Town, but was pleasing on the eye and worthy of the entry fee alone.
A ten minute midfield battle ensued, and City arguably had the run of play in this stanza, though no clear cut chances were forced or created. With fifteen minutes to go a Muddel free kick evaded every opposing player and fell to the feet of Piper, eight yards from goal who was unable to reposition himself to shoot before the goalkeeper smothered the ball. Lancaster recovered from this scare with a counter attack that led to a cross being met by Entwistle, whose header was pushed onto the crossbar by Gavin Phillis. The scorer of such a long distance beauty only quarter of an hour earlier was unable to convert the undemanding rebound, which Phillis gratefully claimed.
Lancaster indisputably enjoyed the clearer cut chances in the final five minutes, with several headers shooting over or being saved, a goal rightly disallowed for offside and a short distance shot blasted preposterously wide, though Casa Simpkins did try to claim the extra two points with a run inside from the wing and an 18 yard attempt on goal, which narrowly missed. The scoreline was ultimately fair, and reflected an even game between two teams capable of attractive Unibond football. The sides left the field to appreciative applause, and a rendition of ‘there’s only one Simon Clifford’ from the travelling Garforth contingent, who were heard throughout the game and will undoubtedly welcome his impending return to managerial status in the summer. Clifford opined that the display was ‘much better’, and forcefully assured the Town faithful that he is ‘ready for next season.’
And so, like the Battle of Ferrybridge in 1461, this fiercely fought War of the Roses produced no loser with an indecisive outcome.
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