Garforth Town 1 - Whitby 3

3.1.2009

Garforth started 2009 with a disappointing defeat at the hands of Britain’s eighth favourite tourist destination Whitby at the Genix Healthcare Stadium. The Seasider’s snatched three points like gulls swooping on discarded ‘chippie’ chips, as Town look to continue without several key players in their ranks.

The Miner’s did make several incisive moves in the first period, but found themselves behind after a free kick led to Whitby’s soft opener. Brett Renshaw levelled proceedings when he met an inexpertly cleared corner with a finish that beat everybody in the area.

Garforth were next denied by some freakishly bad luck, as a penetrative attack down the left saw a point blank header somehow see the goalkeeper recover, rescuing his team from a sure-fire half-time disadvantageous deficit.

The second period of play saw another weak goal scored by Whitby, as the home outfit were stunned by more set piece confusion. The despondent home outfit proceeded to dominate the subsequent half hour of play, controlling possession in midfield without quite managing to break the Whitby rear-line. John Swift tried his luck with a distance effort the keeper fumbled, and a flicked head on from was cleared by a defender from the goal-line itself.

Sadly, a cross was converted shortly after the hour mark at the other end, and Garforth were faced with an uphill struggle against the odds. Still, they showed heart in defeat; Greg Kelly pugnaciously latched onto an overhit through ball on the left wing that he seemed unlikely to reach, and cut inside, laying off Jason St Juste. The former Darlington and Southampton man almost showed his old class with a sweetly struck left footed shot that the goalkeeper saved well.

St Juste would try his luck again with ten minutes to go, after a long throw in caused confusion. His shot was desperately blocked, as was the following driven attempt from Renshaw, who failed to reproduce his earlier effort.

The dependable Duncan Williams put in a strong display, and on 83 minutes latched onto a loose second ball and slid through Hayward on goal. Unfortunately, the veteran strikers piledriver was aimed straight at the goalkeeper, who parried wide.

Two further effort – a half volley from Greg and a blistering shot following a jinking run from saw the game climax with Garforth in the ascendancy, but with the points destined for Yorkshire’s fourth best fishing port.