It was a tense and scrappy encounter where the two defences often cancelled each other out, and when chances did present themselves, quality in front of goal was lacking.

Among a number of Garforth connections the match was sponsored by the Bob Hunter Memorial Fund. The late father of former Town manager Rob and grandfather to former striker Sean, Bob could often be seen supporting the team during their time at the club. On the field for Knaresborough were former Miners Sam Barker, James Beaston and Jack Lazenby and off it there was one for seasoned Garforth fans in coach Lawrence Hunter, part of our 2011-12 squad which reached the NPL North play-off semi-finals.

Jamie Barkway was unfortunate not to put The Miners ahead on 15 mins when his arrowed strike crashed off the bar after Luke Aldrich teed him up from a long throw-in. A Charlie Marshall header was then denied on the line by defender Will Lenehan when picked out by Mutty Al-Jahadhmy. In between those was a chance for Barker for the hosts who shot wide when played in by top scorer Slater Barnes-Cook.

The second half was more end-to-end and a goalline clearance was needed to keep out Barnes-Cook's delivery a minute in. Charlie Marshall too was denied on the line on 60 mins when set up by Aldrich. Barnes-Cook looked sure to finally open the scoring shortly after when a counter-attack saw him race clear, but his shot floated wide of the far post. After the withdrawal of Aldrich, Town struggled to hold the ball up in the final third, allowing Knaresborough to spring forward. Sam Leverett put a curled effort just wide after his corner-kick was half cleared on 73 mins, although in any case a foul had been given against a teammate. Barnes-Cook ballooned a shot wide after controlling a long ball just outside the box. Both sides enjoyed chances for a late winner. Sub Luke Stewart's header hit the crossbar, a Marshall header went just over the bar, then another one for the midfielder when his curled shot was inches wide after Al-Jahadhmy's foray along the edge of the box.

With neither side able to break the deadlock, so we went to penalties. Sadly for The Miners, as in our FA Trophy exit at Runcorn Linnets back in September, our opponents were unerring from the spot. Simon Parkes' side went first, with Lazenby sending Flatters the wrong way to put them ahead. Charlie Marshall replied, before sub Ben Gelder made it 2-1. Max Tweddle equalised once more, then Leverett despatched his for 3-2. Sub Nash Connolly stepped up, but his was too close to keeper Ed Hall and we found ourselves behind. Stewart made it 4-2 with Harry Colville putting his away to keep us in it.  Barnes-Cook was left as the man to win the tie for the 2024 Finalists and duly did so, squeezing his in just beyond the dive of Flatters to set up a Semi-Final clash with Tadcaster Albion and leave us to concentrate on the league.

A second cup exit of the season to lower-placed opponents after August's FA Cup defeat to West Auckland Town in a campaign where we've often struggled when we're the favourites on paper. After a pleasing end to 2025, the new year finds us having to rediscover this form after three defeats in as many outings. We do at least return to LS25 for the first time in nearly a month this Saturday, when North Ferriby are the visitors (kick-off 3pm).