The first chance of the game fell to Runcorn’s Naim Arsan when he fired onto the roof of the net after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box. Joe Allerton came close in similar fashion shortly after when a defender denied Luke Aldrich, his strike just over the crossbar.

Harry Flatters made the first of a number of crucial interventions on 10 mins after Jorge Dwyer beat the last man but the Town stopper made himself big and kept the striker out at the expense of a corner kick. He made another good stop from Marcus Cusani who got on the end of Arsan’s delivery moments later but in any case the offside flag was raised.

Down the other end, Max Tweddle was kept out by Linnets keeper Bayleigh Passant when teed up by Rinor Ejupi’s dinked through ball.
The hosts counter-attacked well and gave themselves the lead on 29 mins. Arsan’s through ball found Linnets top scorer Scott Bakkor who raced past the last defender and finished well across Flatters. The lead was almost doubled three minutes later, Arsan’s swerving shot went just wide when he was played in by Cusani.

The Miners went in search of an equaliser but the quality in front of goal was lacking. Aldrich shot straight at Passant after Mutty Al-Jahadhmy’s foray down the left, then Al-Jahadhmy himself had a sight of goal courtesy of Owen Marshall’s excellent delivery, but he couldn’t get good contact, allowing a defender to clear. Ejupi went close again after a lung-busting run to the edge of the box, but his shot curled just beyond the far post.

In a quiet start to the second half, a flowing move through the middle couldn’t be finished off when captain Dan Coupland forced a save from the feet of Passant. By the hour-mark it seemed the hosts were happy at 1-0, but were made to pay on 70 mins when Town found the equalizer. Sub Nash Connolly got down the right wing and delivered across the area, Aldrich missed it but the ball came to Ejupi who patiently waited for an opening and forced the ball through the legs of defenders and keeper into the net for his fifth of the season.

What followed was proper cup-tie stuff; breathtaking end-to-end football where either side could’ve won it. Sub Harry Viggars, once again thrown up front, was denied by a superb challenge on the edge of the box after Aldrich played him through on 75 mins.

Cusani’s downward header from Arsan’s cross went up and off the crossbar before the follow-up from Oskar Rosenblatt was blocked, and then in a Garforth counter-attack sub George Harrison was denied by some more stout defending after Mutty’s through ball saw him race clear.
Flatters pulled off another cracking stop with his feet to keep out sub Lewis Doyle, before Connolly's low shot was against the side netting after a run to the edge of the box. Sub Sean Miller looked certain to score with a minute left when finding himself clear with only Flatters to beat, but somehow blazed over the bar.

With no more chances in injury time, the tie went straight to penalties. Given Garforth have won their last two shootouts (in the NCEL Premier Division play-offs last year), hopes were high among some. However up against their unflinching opponents, sadly luck wasn't on our side this time . The hosts went first; Miller sent Flatters the wrong way before Coupland did likewise to make it 1-1. Arsan converted his, but sub Jay Davis’s was too close to Passant and Town found themselves in arrears. Declan McLoughlin scored to leave our hopes hanging by a thread (3-1). Connolly saw his effort saved, leaving Matthew Rain with the task of putting his side into tomorrow's next round draw. The substitute duly obliged to make it 4-1 and spark jubilation among home supporters and reflections on what might have been for those in blue.

On the field The Miners haven’t had much luck in this neck of the woods, our only previous visit ending in a 3-0 Vase defeat for Adie Costello’s side at neighbours Runcorn Town almost ten years ago. Off it, it has to be said we were made most welcome by Linnets officials and supporters yesterday and we wish them all the best in the next round.

Town's quest for a first ever appearance in the 2nd qualifying round of the Trophy will have to wait for another season, meanwhile we hit the road once again next Saturday when we head to Lincoln United (kick-off 3pm).