Garforth Town 1 - Chorley 0

21/3/09

Garforth Town returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win courtesy of a wonderful strike from winger Lee Askham in the 69th minute of play. The Miner’s overcame The Magpie’s in a 50/50 game between two sides with ten victories each, both eager to finish the season strong in the final months and claim some points and bragging rights.

An initial feeling out process was ended when Garforth began to string together several plays attempting to break down the usually dogged defence of Chorley, bereft of their usual array of bald giants. Greg Kelly was clipped while positioning to shoot, and captain Renshaw blazed the subsequent free kick awarded over the goal.

No clear cut chances were fashioned in a first half – arguably a full game – contested in midfield, on the wings and in the air. Moments into the second half Chorley guided a dangerous cross/pass into the Town area, which Nathan Kamara intercepted and cleared. A later play saw a cut back into Garforth’s area, and the resulting shot was skied.

The moment of the match occurred on 69; on-loan Lee Askham cut in from the left and powered a piledriver of a left footed strike into the top left corner of the Chorley goal, to rapturous applause. Pick that one out junior.

Greg Kelly was put through on goal ten minutes later but the goalkeeper alertly cleared, only for the ball to fall to substitute Bryce Tiani who tried an audacious lofted effort from 40 yards. With the keeper beat, Bryce saw his shot agonizingly dip too late to count, but the effort was commendable.

Things went from bad to worse for the Magpie’s, who couldn’t snatch a bit of luck. One Magpie snatched at a Garforth head though, and not only was his elbow a demonstration of sub-standard Thai boxing technique, it earned him his second yellow and an early shower. Stick to football son.

Garforth saw out the final minutes imperiously to claim a much needed three points, thus avenging a stinging defeat to the Lancastrians earlier in the season. The Miner’s next travel to Lancaster City on Tuesday night, looking to string a second successive win to their bow and to return from the enemy side of the Pennines with three points – war Garforth!