Centre-back Sam Denton's cameo role up front was turned into a top-billed one as he donned the number nine jersey for his first start of the season. Rinor Ejupi and Jamie Barkway also returned to the first eleven after missing last weekend's defeat to Newton Aycliffe, with Max Tweddle unavailable and Steve Jeff taking a seat on the bench.

Home supporters haven't had a goal to celebrate since 21st January's victory over Consett, but there's been a little more joy for those following The Miners on the road. Town have found the net on three occasions since then, and all three times we've come away with something. This was to prove the case today too, but it was a quite a while before anything other than Dunston completing the double over us looked likely.

The Fed started the better side and were ahead after just five minutes. From Phil Turnbull's corner kick, Michael Pearson's low strike was cleared off the line by Denton, but after some hesitation by the referee, the ball was deemed to have crossed the line and Garforth found themselves behind. Our struggles in the final third seen in recent weeks continued, and the closest we came to fashioning a chance in the early stages was from a Freddy Jeffreys corner and a Jordan Emery long throw deep into the box, both eventually dealt with by the Tynesiders. A good spell for the home side followed; a 20-yard effort from danger man JJ O' Donnell was just over the bar from an attack down the right, and then the same man went close again when Harry Flatters parried a right wing delivery and O'Donnell's shot was blocked on the line by Barkway.

There was a chance for defender Owen Marshall on 31 mins, his 30-yard effort well wide after Denton chested down a long ball. Dunston were soon down the other end however, David Robinson lashing just wide. Another Emery long throw into the mixer almost saw Charlie Marshall find the equalizer but his effort was deflected just wide. Our task was made harder when Denton was sent off for a late challenge on Dunston keeper Dan Lowson after defender Tom Devitt headed back to him Charlie Marshall's ball over the top. Ejupi and opponent Dale Pearson were both cautioned after the resulting scuffle.

Despite their numerical advantage, the expected Dunston onslaught never really materialised and there were only a couple of chance of note before the hour mark. Pearson blazed over the bar after O'Donnell's jinking run inside the box, before Flatters made a good save to deny an O'Donnell header from Turnbull's corner.

Yet to create a chance in the half, the introduction of Steve Jeff, Nash Connolly and Max Bauer (for Emery, Cable and Jeffreys) brought about more of a goal threat from the Miners. Connolly came desperately close on 74 mins when we broke forward down the left, his low shot parried wide by Lowson, but Bauer couldn't take advantage.

Town still had to be wary at the back however, with sub Richard Coulson's dangerous cross picking out fellow sub Dan Turner deep in the box but thankfully for Town he couldn't connect. Connolly was in with another chance moments later when his strike from Bauer's cross deflected wide. From the resulting corner nine mins from time, The Miners were level. Jeff's delivery found Barkway at the far post who volleyed home for his second goal of the season.

A nervy period of added time saw Chris McDonald fire well over the bar when found in space by Turnbull, before Town supporters had their hearts in their mouths when Pearson looked certain to grab The Fed a late winner. From a break forward, his dinked shot beat Flatters, but Harry Viggars was there to clear off the line.

An excellent point against a good side which will hopefully spur Paul Marshall's side on to an upturn in form to close out the season. We venture up the A1 again next Saturday when we visit Ashington (kick-off 3pm).