A good footballing side also enjoying an unbeaten start to the season, Droylsden enjoyed much of the possession against a Town looking to hit them on the break. That said, there were few clear-cut chances for the Bloods to cause an upset. One came early on when Jamie Barkway made a crucial block to deflect wide a Jordan Barnett strike when he was picked out by Ethan Smyth.
Garforth took the lead against the run of play on 12 mins. Olli Patrick's corner was headed in at the far post by Niall Tilsley for his first goal for the club.
It was almost two on 20 mins when Tilsley found the net again with a header in off the post from another Patrick corner, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on a defender. Harry Colville was denied by some last-ditch defending in the box when played through by Charlie Marshall and then Tilsley's half-volley just cleared the bar after Patrick's delivery was half-cleared.
Cody Artwell saw a shot deflected wide on 27 mins when teed up by a cross after Town couldn't clear their lines. As half time approached, Harris Eggleston curled an effort just wide of the far post, then there were a couple of openings for the hosts. Harry Flatters turned wide Ivanilson Da Silva's half-volley, then denied the same opponent again moments later, saving his shot at the near post.
Marauding centre-half Emmanuel Omorogbe's shot brought a routine save from Flatters on 60 mins as the hosts sought an equaliser. An effort from Colville was deflected wide after good play by Dexter Ball and Charlie Marshall on the edge of the box. Patrick's cross on 72 mins flashed across the face of goal with nobody to turn home before Marshall headed just wide from sub Steven Jeff's delivery.
His side still enjoying most of the ball, Omorogbe was denied by a brave catch from a quick-reacting Flatters ten minutes from time when a free-kick was headed on, but the Bloods grabbed an equaliser moments later in controversial circumstances. Barnett's corner kick was held by Flatters, who looked to be barged into by an opponent, causing him to land with the ball over the line. After much discussion between the referee and the linesman, the goal was given.
The hosts continued to push forward, but on 90 mins Town ruthlessly exploited the inevitable gaps at the back to grab a late winner. Playing a big part in our dramatic 3-3 draw at Grimsby in midweek, subs Mutty Al-Jahadhmy and James Burgess were at it again. After the hosts wasted a good opportunity from a free-kick, the ball was played to Al-Jahadhmy who picked out Burgess in acres of space to slide the ball underneath Jordan Latham and put Town into the hat for Monday's First Qualifying Round draw. Two goals in three now off the bench for the striker, who'll look to repeat his exploits of the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Garforth are back in league action on Tuesday when we return to the BCD Community Stadium after four matches on the road. North Ferriby are the visitors (kick-off 7:45pm).
Town team: Flatters, Johnson (Jeff, 77), Emery, Savage, Tilsley, Barkway (c), Eggleston (M. Al-Jahadhmy, 68), Patrick, C. Marshall, Ball (Burgess, 71), Colville. Unused: M.F. "Mutty Junior" Al-Jahadhmy, Denton.
Cautions: Tilsley 85, Barkway 90.
Attendance: 508.