The Bannister Prentice Stadium, Wheatley Park, home of Garforth Town based in West Yorkshire and compete in Step 5 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. I’ve seen this team years and years ago in my Shirebrook Town days at Langwith Road and they always used to bring a big following along with a drum, let’s hope for more of the same tonight for mine and Match Days Joe’s visit! Hemsworth Miners Welfare are the visitors tonight!
What if I told you that a former Brazil World Cup player played here? Socrates who represented Brazil in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup once made an appearance in a Garforth Town shirt back in 2004 in front of a sell out crowd!!! How about that!?
One of the coldest grounds in the country… Or so I’ve been warned by Ken from Frickley and Match Days Joe himself… Better layer up! The drive all the way up the M1 from Sheffield sees me here in plenty of time! Into the club bar I go! Match Days Joe is here already! Great to hear some stories of Garforth from years ago by fan Gary!! But time is up and it’s time for the game! £6 to get in here! Lovely!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Hemsworth charge into the box from the right, the Garforth defenders chase it and the ball bobbles up… Oooooh! Did that come off a Garforth arm there…? The Referee not interested but I think Hemsworth have a case there! Hemsworth have started the better of the 2 teams but no clear cut chances yet.
Great to meet the man behind the Instagram account, Matt on Tour tonight!! Best part of the hobby! 19 minutes now and Garforth have a throw in on the left, played in, it’s flicked on to Joe Colley who’s running in, he shoots… Keeper saves and it’s a corner, in it comes… That’s going in… But the keeper manages to tip it away and Hemsworth clear.
2 minutes later and Garforth win a free kick on the edge of the box, Charlie Marshall steps up… And he scores!!!! He goes for the far side and the keeper can’t keep it out! Garforth lead here! 1-0!! “GTFC! GTFC!” The Garforth Ultras that Match Days Joe told me about are alive at last!!
26 minutes on the clock and Garforth win a free kick on the left wing, it’s whipped in, Jamie Barkway is running in at the far post… He doesn’t get there and it’s a goal kick. Garforth much the better team now and are taking the game to Hemsworth. 35th minute and Hemsworth play forward now, Ripley gets into the box, he goes down… The Referee has given a corner… I thought it was a Penalty and so did the Hemsworth fans on the far side, in comes the corner… It’s fallen to Nash Connolly and he shoots… Blocked and cleared.
38th minute and Helmo Silva wins the ball back from a Hemsworth attack and he breaks forward, he’s dispossessed and it’s loose… Harry Viggars goes in dangerously but he wins the ball but the Referee has blown for a foul… He got the ball so it’s not a foul for me… But the Referee has thought differently… He’s sent him off!! Shocking decision for me that! Hemsworth down to 10 men.
Into stoppage time in the first half and Hemsworth have a free kick on the right hand side, it’s played into the box, they win the header and it falls to Nash Connolly… He’s scored!!! The 10 men have hit back!!! 1-1!! “All Hemsworth aren’t we!” A bit of noise now from the travelling Hemsworth fans!
Play continues into stoppage time in this first half and here come Garforth, Joe Colley finds himself through on goal and he goes for it… It’s saved brilliantly by the keeper and Hemsworth clear! Big chance! At half time it’s 1-1!
Second half… It really really is a cold ground this… And this is with double and treble layers… 52nd minute and Garforth have a corner, in it comes… Hemsworth clear, the ball comes to Karl Fitzgerald… He’s made a mess of that and Hebda is away, he’s 1 on 1 and he shoots… Brilliant save by the keeper! Massive save that!
Garforth looking the better team now in this second half with Hemsworth defending for their lives! 70th minute and Garforth come forward, played to Lee Turner who shoots at a tight angle… Blocked! It comes back to him and he crosses, Joe Colley goes for the overhead kick… He’s caught Nash Connolly on the head and it’s a free kick for Hemsworth.
77 minutes now and Garforth come forward again, a great passing move by the attackers and here’s Charlie Marshall in the box, he takes a touch, he tries to go around the defender… But he’s held off and it rolls out for a goal kick… A touch too many! 80th minute and Garforth have a corner, in it comes… Jamie Barkway gets to it… It’s there!!! They’ve been knocking on the door and they’ve found the opening!! Garforth lead again! Hemsworth have been breached! 2-1!! “GTFC!”
5 minutes later and here come Garforth again, it’s played through to Joe Colley who runs into the box for it, the keeper comes and it’s a tight angle… But he’s done it!!! He’s found the net and that should settle it for Garforth!!! 3-1!! Garforth looking really comfortable now as the game has fizzled out and the Referee calls time! Good win for Garforth!
FT: Garforth Town 3-1 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – Not as much noise from the Garforth Ultras as I would’ve liked but I have to say that they are a passionate bunch and they are one of the funniest fan bases I have come across! Fantastic! The Hemsworth fans did a good job here tonight as well who were another passionate bunch!
- The Ground: 7.5/10 – It’s a nice ground! The stand is what makes it! Plenty of potential for more should they want it but I would like to see a bit more on the other ends of the ground but the view from the stand is second to none!!
- Expense: 10/10 – £6 for 4 goals and a red card and a close game! Thanks!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to meet Gary before the game and great to meet Matt on Tour for hopefully the first of many games! Great to see Match Days Joe once again and a great game especially great to see the Garforth Ultras in action!! A lovely club they have here in Garforth! The cold did not spoil my night one bit!!
31.5/40