Garforth began their march to Wembley with a revitalising victory over Tow Law Town in the early stages of the world famous Football Association Cup. The visitors have tasted success in FA competitions – FA Vase finalists a decade ago – yet boasted no Chris Waddle’s in their new generation, who fell by a goal to nought in the Genix Coliseum to Garforth’s lions.
The Lawyers were outfought and out-thought in an entertaining tussle between two sides who know full well the financial benefits of cup runs. One in particular, Garforth’s Mark Piper, reached the Vase final at Wembley with AFC Totton in 2007 as a 17 year old, and today played with maturity and an assuredness that belies his age. Piper and fellow youngster Duncan Williams excelled against limited but strong opposition, and worked tirelessly in their given fields.
Throughout the first half, Town pressed to no avail, facing an ageing goalkeeper of Southall-esque proportions. A shot-stopping masterclass notwithstanding, the Town frontline were linking up well, with Andy Heywood, Dom Blair (yes, Vernol’s kid) and the aforementioned Piper playing off one another at ease. All Tow Law could muster in response was a weak half volley from thirty yards that culminated with a Garforth throw in. Oh, for the days of Waddle.
A reportedly furious Clifford admonishment in the interval visibly awakened the home side, and added urgency to their endeavours. Captain Renshaw found the woodwork, and had another near miss when a corner ricocheted into his path, and Brett’s low drive was deflected wide. This sparked a resurgent period, as Blair began causing problems on the left with his pace and movement, and Town began to exert control.
The Lawyers finally managed an offensive move, and it almost resulted in a goal when a kind bounce led to a prodded half volley that hit the crossbar. It only served as a wake up call to Garforth, and shocked them into establishing dominance.
A Town corner fell to Andy Heywood on seventy minutes, and his sliced half volley rasped over the top right corner. By now Law had disintegrated, and were clutching on for the replay that would never come.
Tow Law adopted an interesting management tactic that involved one coach going behind the goals to give players instructions. This would continue throughout, drawing the ire of Clifford.
Finally, the breakthrough occurred in the dying stages of the game, when on 87 minutes a poorly conceded free kick from Law led to Duncan Williams curling a fine ball which was steered back across goal into the left corner by Callum Selby. Garforth players, management and fans alike went ballistic, with Simon ‘Broken Ribs’ Clifford the recipient of a plethora of passionate embraces from his staff.
Town could have added to the tally. Williams latched onto a flick on to try and lift the ball over the keeper, and Chris ‘Tevez’ Brown drew applause when he harried the Law no.1, having sprinted from the other side of the field. The dispossession did not lead to a goal, but was good for some shredded nerves of the visitors who were desperately trying to muster the semblance of a late counter offensive.
Deep in stoppage time, with the distant scent of Wembley in Town nostrils, Piper cut a cross-field pass to Dean Mitchell on the right. Dean unselfishly stroked the ball through into Duncan’s path, and the younger Williams brother rounded the TL shot-stopper and tried to find Brown with a lifted cut back. With the goal at his mercy, the ball was over hit for the Geordie, but it was a fine team attack, with good passing and movement.
The raucous crowd rose in volume as the referee concluded a fine FA Cup qualifier between two hungry non-leaguers, an enjoyable affair that saw a lively, loud crowd with hardly any unpleasantness and more camaraderie with the County Durham flag wavers than usually seen with the good inhabitants of Lancashire. Garforth will look to build on this victory with a similarly inspired showing in league form, and turn their ground into The Fortress Genix in the coming months, in a Town Called Malice.
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