Jarrow Roofing 1 - Garforth Town 0

12-9-09

The Football Association Cup is often spoken of with reverence and misty eyed wonder as the giant killings of the past and classic cup memories flood the minds of the nostalgic. There was little of this mystical romance in the northeast today, as Garforth dominated a team of natural athletes only to lose by a goal due to impotent finishing. And how ironic it was, that it would be Jarrow vs. The Miner’s in a crusade to qualify for the cup! Sadly, Jarrow are the ones marching on.

Jarrow fired the first shot in anger at their Yorkshire guests, a dipping drive from distance, but that would be as good as it got for the plastic Geordies until the claimed the match-winning second half strike. Duncan Williams curled an excellent through ball from his own half into the path of striker Tom Greaves, though the forward could not find the finishing touch. It was to epitomise the jarrowing experience that Garforth had all day. (Budum-ch)

Williams, Nathan Kamara and Milton Turner fired several balls upfield, testing the particularly chiselled Jarrow defenders, and a handful of semi-chances fell to the visitors. Duncan embarked on a weaving run from the left wing, but ultimately came short in his ambitious attempt to fashion a clear shot at goal. Minutes later he almost set up with a run and through ball, but once more the opportunity went begging. Jarrow’s only other crack at goal in the first half hour came from a criminally awarded free kick that was curled well wide by a lefty.

Darren Thornton showed good pace off the mark when he left his man for dead on the left wing and curled in a cross. Unfortunately, nobody took the chance on it and Greaves could not quite latch onto it, though it only seemed a matter of time before the yellow’s found the net.

Thornton next entertained us with a tactical debate with the Town management, as the referee blew for the first of what would be several extended periods of non-play in both halves. Why is your guess, I haven’t a clue. After this break, Liam Ormsby tried his luck with a shot following a passing interchange and layoff. The Jarrow shot stopper saved well.

Garforth did find the net before the first half climax, as a rebounding header was converted by Ormsby, but the flag was raised for an impeachment. Town would hit the woodwork once more as Greaves headed a cross against the Jarrow bar in the last noteworthy play of the opening period.

The second half took on the same format, though with both players and fans now getting increasingly frustrated and restless. The ball was worked to Greaves, who angled and shot, though Jarrow numero uno saved again. Kamara burst forwards from defence in a rush of adrenaline and evaded challenges well, until a well-timed slide sent him flying through the air. Ormsby picked up the loose ball and tried a shot. By now Jarrow were hanging on.

More long balls tested the now tiring Balti kings of the JR back line, as Garforth entered their most comfortable period in the game. Passing interchanges were completed with ease, yet Town still could not find the back of the net. It was to be one of those days.

Following Town’s best chance of the game, another one on one that was skied, sod’s law struck. A Jarrow break upfield caught Garforth unawares, and when a ball into the box saw the recipient fortuitously ride a challenge, it was a simple conversion to sink the spirits of the Yorkshire visitors.

missed a one on one. His subsequent chip was cleared off the line. Captain Brett Renshaw was ludicrously sent off for ‘dissent’. The Jarrow defenders hit the red, cardio wise. Milton Turner came close with a header. Duncan was tripped with the sure-fire penalty not awarded to Town, which the official later claimed was due to ‘no Garforth players appealing’. Duncan was fouled, shrugged his assailant off and was booked. Kamara tried his luck with a long shot. The End.

The magic of the cup. Jarrow’s cup crusade continues, and The Miner’s fall. Football can be a funny game.

Garforth Town 0 - Farsley Celtic 2

28-7-09

East has met West for battle and conflict many times in history, from the twelfth century Mongolians sweeping westwards under Genghis Khan, to the Cold War and deterrence that encompassed the entire second half of the twentieth century. Tonight at the Genix, the east and west of Leeds met as two of the three biggest teams the city boasts went head to head in a pre-season friendly, with Garforth sadly succumbing to two first half goals from the visiting, triumphant western club.

Farsley quickly claimed the ascendancy with a scruffy and unsightly effort, and doubled their numerical advantage with a half-volleyed shot from a cross. Twenty minutes in, Garforth were facing an uphill task against their Blue Square Conference city neighbours.

This didn’t deter the Town players, who would visibly pick up their game. In particular towards the end of the half, new father Brett Renshaw relished the rain, sliding in to make several crunching tackles unflinchingly. Milton Turner did well to prevent a goal-scoring chance.

Garforth did muster several opportunities, as new strikers Darren Thornton and Neil Towler tried their luck with shots, a header was saved, and finally a bouncing ball somehow evaded every player as it travelled past, acrobatics be damned.

One Farsley attacker – mindful of the contingent of Brazilian Soccer Schools coaches in attendance – earned applause with a Cruyff turn and curled shot that sailed wide, and Farsley ended the half comfortably playing some neat and concise attacking football.

The second did not begin well for Garforth, as a highly questionable penalty was awarded to the away team, though Town shot-stopper assuredly saved the spot-kick and kept his team within reach of parity.

After a prolonged period with neat midfield play but no clear-cut chances, Garforth broke down the left and Thornton attempted to slide the ball under the Farsley goalkeeper. Though said shot-stopper saved well, the subsequent pirouette and scrabbling suggested that he did not make the save with a part of his anatomy he intended to use, and the sympathies of all went out to him.

Andy Hayward showed a veteran’s head with a good ball down the left channel, and it was latched onto and turned in. The resulting desperation challenge led to the just award of a penalty. It was blasted over. Two points. Metaphorically.

The final chance of the game also went to Garforth, as Hayward didn’t show a veteran’s head when he sent the ball sailing over. But it was a good performance against a Conference outfit, and local friendly rivals, and two promotions would be surely welcomed by the city of Leeds.

Garforth Town 2 - Leeds Met Carnegie 1

11-7-09

New look Town strolled to a victory over the tax dodgers of Leeds Metropolitan University, on a sunny summer’s day at the Genix. Prodigal son Milton Turner drove home a low finish in the first half, and old fox Andy Hayward taught his whippersnapper opponents that age isn’t everything by claiming the match-winning goal from distance… six yards distance.

An initial feeling out process began, and lasted a full fifteen minutes before the home side started to thread balls through both in the air and on the ground. On twenty minutes, full back Milton burst forward into an inviting expanse of space on the right channel, exchanged a short one-two and ran on to score, driving the ball across the goal and home, low to the left. Uno–Cero.

The play was broken up in the interregnum between goals – niggly challenges and misplaced passes replaced free flowing football, topped off by a Garforth debutant attacker being accidentally kicked in the face. But, que sera…

Garforth’s attacks somewhat lost their fizz and spark – one such play involving Mark Piper and Duncan Williams saw several players manoeuvring to shoot, unable to get off a clear shot at goal. Perhaps credit should be given to the student defence. But not here.

Carnegie staked a claim when their full back powered a driven shot just over the top right corner from outside the area, and soon after regained parity with an excellent goal. darted up the right flank and cut inside, leaving the yellows for dead, and slid the ball inside for the easiest of tap in conversions. Uno-Uno, and deserved.

The whistle blew to end a fairly contested and clean first half, with both sides level.

That would change only minutes into the second period; new boy A.Wordsfold volleyed a clearance from a cross back into the Carnegie box, into the path of Andy Hayward. The former professional proved that coffin dodgers can beat tax dodgers any day of the week, hooking the ball back over his shoulder to earn a lead for his side. Dos-Uno.

Dominic Blair – back despite rumours of a switch to Blackburn Rovers – almost doubled the one goal lead with an effort from the right wing after a lay off. As the ensuing goal kick took place, the sun came out in force, as it should in July anyway, giving one player an immediately noticeable tan.

Blair almost set up Williams with a curled free kick, as the youngster headed just wide. The same Williams almost scored ten minutes later, when he avoided the offside trap as Hayward slid him through. Sadly, his own slide rule effort slid wide.

The game ended, a game with no controversy, ugly or hilarious scenes, no outward aggression, no tempers flared, no awful decisions and no penalties awarded. I must have come to the wrong ground this aft…

Garforth Town 3 - Woodley Sports 1

22-4-09

Visiting Greater Mancunians Woodley Sports may be called ‘The Steelmen’, but they were melted down pretty quickly by the Miner’s, as an imperious Garforth opening saw two goals flashed into the away goal courtesy of Greg Kelly and budding professional Duncan Williams.

The Chesterfield bound youngster started strongly, holding the ball up well, and earning Garforth their first chance early doors with an overhead effort that missed by inches. Andy Hayward, with another performance that belied his years, sent Williams scampering through minutes later, though the ball overran. And finally after quarter of an hour of pressure, Greg Kelly latched onto a bouncing ball upfield from Carl Fox to head past his man and direct a low volley past the keeper to claim the opening goal for his side.

Ninety seconds later the numerical lead was doubled, as Hayward received a pass to feet beautifully, lifting an incisive ball into Williams’ path for the midfielder to fire in a second goal.

By this point, it was reported that Greater Manchester no longer wanted Woodley, and by half time the team belonged to Cheshire again.

Hayward was hacked down savagely in front of goal, and this act of viciousness was followed by a similar mauling of the dangerous Williams mere seconds later. Sadly, a double penalty was not awarded. Hayward generously played the ball back to the goalkeeper from the spot, in the interests of sportsmanship and a more closely contested game.

A long ball played in to Hayward was fired wide, and the chance was Garforth’s final effort in a first half that they arguably controlled. The teams trouped in, for Garforth to receive further instructions and Woodley to lick their wounds.

The visitors from Cheshire started the second half with more vigour and venom, coming close twice in five minutes with a point blank header that was steered over, and a shot that Luke Gibbons did well to save.

Garforth would once take the ascendancy in the 60th, as Williams played in Graham Marchant who layed off Dominic Blair. The veteran winger placed a ball across the box, yet the Garforth attack were thwarted by a last ditch defensive header.

Williams showed great dexterity in evading several challengers, and when possession seemed lost, the tenacity of Mark Piper won it back. Williams embarked on a good run, though Marchant was unable to supply the finish.

An open goal chance was missed, and skimming over that one quickly, a subsequent play saw Mark Piper claim the ball forty yards from goal up the left channel, fly past the nearest defenders like Road Runner meep-meeps past that poor Wile E.Coyote, and square the ball precisely for Marchant to slot home for the most comfortable of 3-0 leads.

Woodley scored a consolation goal from a questionable corner with a header, but the end result was a solid win for the fans, and some fine attacking play shown in the penultimate home game of the season.