Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Garforth Town 2-2 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Andy Horbury enjoyed a debut to remember for Hemsworth Miners Welfare as his late equaliser claimed an opening day point in the draw at Garforth Town.
His close range finish denied Garforth’s double goal-scorer Charlie Marshall the headlines.
Over 300 people attended the first game of the new NCEL season and all-in-all it was fair result.
Garforth dealt the first blow in the 16th minute.
James Burgess persistently got in behind the Hemsworth defence all night and he did all the hard work for the opener and his goal-bound effort was turned in on the line by Marshall.
Hemsworth’s passing style of play will make them a force to be reckoned with at home.
But in their first game away from Fitzwilliam this summer, the Wells struggled to get into full flow on the Garforth grass surface.
The Wells responded extremely quickly with Jay Davis’ bolt from nowhere – a long range low effort.
Garforth turned the screw at the beginning of the second half and only new goalkeeper and man of the match Ally Hughes kept Hemsworth in it.
He was quick off his line to snuff out Burgess on several occasions and he also made two amazing saves from goal-bound rocket launcher attempts.
However, he could not prevent Marshall firing in from close range from a scramble to deservedly restore Garforth’s lead.
Rather than kick on and push for a third, Garforth allowed Hemsworth back into it and a well-worked move saw Horbury teed up for a chance he couldn’t miss from.
The last 15 minutes were nip and tuck but a draw was probably right.
Who Was In Charge
Abdul Hakimy (6/10)
How Many Were There
307
Man of the Match
Ally Hughes (Hemsworth Miners Welfare)