It's easy to see why Redcar are on track for back-to-back promotions, with options all over the park and the confidence to shoot from every angle. But whilst they were the better footballing side yesterday, Garforth matched them for long periods, doggedly defending the box and waiting patiently for their opportunity. And it almost paid dividends as the Steelmen came within ten minutes of suffering a first home defeat since 23rd August.
The hosts started the game on the front foot with Brad Fewster's lobbed effort going just wide, a Louis Johnson effort deflected off-target and a curling strike from John Howard just over the bar. On ten minutes they duly opened the scoring. A diagonal ball found Johnson who's cross was turned home by NPL top scorer Adam Boyes. Johnson was a menace down the right wing and he almost had a hand in doubling the lead; his cross into the box played back to Fewster in a good position, but luckily for Town he couldn't connect with it.
The Miners had yet to produce a clear-cut chance but were capable of causing the hosts real problems when the ball was played into the box. We were handed one on 19 mins when we were awarded a penalty after Rinor Ejupi was tripped in the box. Dan Coupland and Max Tweddle have been the recent penalty takers, but Charlie Marshall stepped up for this one, despatching low just beyond the reach of Redcar keeper Josh Mazfari to level the scores.