The Miners looked to follow up wins on the road at Brighouse and Hallam, but instead it was a familiar tale for home supporters with chances not taken and a goal conceded followed by lots of huffing and puffing and three points heading elsewhere.

A slow start for Garforth saw Ashington's Liam Wortherspoon create the first chance of the game eight mins in, his shot from the edge of the box held by Harry Flatters after Rory Powell's cross was half-cleared. Town grew into the game to create the better of the half's chances, but in what became a theme throughout the game, quality in front of goal was lacking. Rinor Ejupi's shot was deflected wide at the near post before a dipping effort from Charlie Marshall brought a good save from Colliers keeper Ben Metcalf. There followed two opportunities for a rare goal from Steve Jeff. His 20-yard free-kick on 15 mins went just wide, and he was then denied by a clearance off the line after brilliant work by Dexter Ball.

Ejupi forced a near post save when going it alone on a counter-attack and then shortly afterwards put an effort just wide of the far post when set up by Charlie Marshall. Luke Aldrich then saw a header just about dealt with by Metcalf when played in by Harry Colville. There were flashes of Lincoln away when Jeff's corner was half-cleared to Owen Marshall on the edge of the box, but his volley was narrowly off-target.

Four minutes into the second half Ball saw a shot saved from another counter-attack. Whilst the visitors were well organised, it was hard to see them scoring at that point but they duly punished us for our missed chances by taking the lead on 56 mins. A corner kick into the six-yard box wasn't dealt with, allowing Ryan Wombwell to head in at close range. They nearly doubled the lead a minute later with Louis Burns' curling shot denied by Jamie Barkway at the expense of a corner. A counter attack on 64 mins offered hope for Garforth when a counter attack saw Ashington's Chris Reid sent off for pulling back Aldrich after the centre-forward looked to have got clear. The resulting free-kick from Colville was tipped over the bar.

The ten-men opponents proceeded to sit deep to protect their lead, an approach Garforth have struggled to overcome all season and the frustrations only continued. Flatters denied a second Wombwell goal on 76 mins after Town couldn't clear their lines. A couple of double substitutions were made in an attempt to freshen things up, but a goal still wouldn't come. Owen Marshall's near post header from a corner was just wide and then another corner saw Barkway head onto the roof of the net. A near-ten minutes of injury time saw an Ashington player shoot wide when well-placed, before Jordan Emery's header was brilliantly turned around the post by Metcalf.

In the end it was not to be for The Miners as, in reverse circumstances to the away match last season when Town won after having defender Harry Viggars sent off, the battling visitors held on for a vital win in their fight against relegation, one which takes them three points clear of the drop. Garforth meanwhile hit the road again in our next outing next Saturday when we visit Heaton Stannington (kick-off 3pm).