A brand new season, but the first half witnessed a scene familiar to home fans from last year where Town, favourites on paper, lacked the incisiveness to cut through a well-drilled opponent.
Things did start positively however with Harris Eggleston doing well on the left. After he forced a defensive error, teammate Matt Savage hit an arrowed shot over the bar. There was a good opportunity from Ollie Patrick's free-kick just outside the box shortly after which Niall Tilsley headed into space, but there was nobody to turn home.
There was then a good chance for the visitors when Lewis Billingsley cut inside but could only shoot tamely at Harry Flatters. There followed a double setback for The Miners, when Luke Aldrich took a knock and had to be replaced by Charlie Marshall. A 'West' punt forward then caught our defence cold, leaving Max Leonard to lift the ball over Flatters to give the Midland League side a shock lead.
The well-supported visitors thought they had a second on 29 mins when Joe Berks pinged the ball to Leonard who found the net once again with a cracking finish off the far post, but was ruled offside. Leonard - who made a handful of appearances for Garforth back in 2012-13 season - then suffered the same fate as his opposite number when he too was forced off by injury.
On 31 mins Charlie Marshall went close when picked out by Harry Colville, his turn and shot bringing a save from Felix Chester at the near post.
The second period was better from a Miners perspective and we had the ball in the net on 53 mins, Savage finishing low from Colville's cross, but he too was offside. We still needed a good save from Flatters to keep us in the game though, substitute Jacques Etia latching onto a hospital pass but the Town stopper was straight out of his goal to deny the shot.
On 68 mins we had the equaliser. Patrick's corner kick found Charlie Marshall at the back post who bundled in. There followed a couple more chances to turn the tables - Jamie Barkway's header was saved, before Marshall could only shoot straight at Chester after getting clear of the West defence.
There was a big chance for both sides to win it late on. Sub Billy Matthews was nearly played in in front of goal by Joel Igwenwanne but couldn't get a touch on the ball, then Max Tweddle forced a save from Chester when set up by sub Sam Denton.
With the sides unable to be separated, we head to Manchester on Tuesday for the replay (kick-off 7:45pm).
Town team: Flatters, Johnson, Emery, O. Marshall (Denton, 87), Tilsley, Barkway (c), Colville, Savage (Coupland, 69), Aldrich (C. Marshall, 20), Patrick (Ball, 69), Eggleston (Tweddle, 61). Unused sub: Allerton.
Cautions: Barkway, 20.