Match report by Arlie Thorpe
First Half

The opening 45 minutes were full of intensity but lacking in goals. Early on, tempers flared as Garforth defender Jamie Barkway clashed with Blyth winger Arran Wearmouth, leading to a substitution for the visitors as Jesse Gomez replaced the injured wide man.

Blyth captain Shay Richardson was cautioned for a heavy challenge on Rinor Ejupi, while at the other end, Garforth showed flashes of quality. A neat exchange between Luke Aldrich and Harry Colville ended with Colville forcing a smart save from Blyth goalkeeper Dobson.

Colville was again in the thick of the action, this time at the back, producing a vital block to deny Benjamin Shodeinde a clear strike on goal.

Despite Garforth’s pressure, the sides went into half-time level at 0–0.

Second Half

Garforth began the second period brightly, introducing Steve Jeff and Nash Connolly from the bench to inject more energy into their attack. Captain Dan Coupland later made way for Jason Davis in a tactical reshuffle.

The Miners continued to probe, with Joe Allerton’s through ball setting up Mutty Al-Jahadhmy, only for Dobson to smother the chance. Ejupi thought he was clear on goal shortly after, but the offside flag halted his run.

Momentum was with Garforth, yet it was Blyth who broke the deadlock. In the 72nd minute, after a scramble inside the box, substitute Jesse Gomez found space to drive the ball low into the bottom corner for 1–0.

The game grew heated, with bookings for Allerton and later Colville as challenges flew in. Garforth pushed forward again, Davis volleying just over and Allerton testing Dobson with a powerful strike from distance. But the killer blow came late on: Benjamin Shodeinde controlled well inside the box before firing past Flatters to seal the 2–0 win for Blyth.