Heaton Stannington travelled to Yorkshire to play Garforth Town for the 4th time this season. A battling Stan matched their promotion chasing hosts to earn an important point. There were 2 changes from Wednesday’s draw at Brighouse with Marriott and Slaughter replacing Robson & Burn.
Both teams started positively although it was Garforth who were 1st to have an attack cleared in the 3rd minute. There was an early blow for the Stan when an injured Stepheson had to be replaced by Burn in the 9th minute. In the 10th minute, a home attack came to nothing allowing the Stan to counterattack through Burn who supplied the advancing Adamson but his shot was saved.
In the 13th minute, a home effort from a corner went wide. The Stan then had a ball from a corner cleared twice. In 23 minutes, a Garforth player broke into the Stan box but was blocked for a corner. After a quieter period, the best chance of the half for the Stan came in 41 minutes when Groves won the ball and put through Adamson but his shot was put wide by home keeper Flatters. The Stan then had another long-range effort put wide by Flatters and in the 45th minute they put the ball over the home bar. In the 2nd minute of added time, from a corner, Brass made a great block on the goal line to prevent Coupland’s header giving Garforth a half time lead.
The 2nd half started with a Stan attack being cleared. In 51 minutes, Garforth put the ball over the Stan bar from 6 yards out. 3 minutes later and Brass had to get up to stop a shot. In 60 minutes, the Stan blocked a home attack 3 times before a Garforth player shot just wide. In 74 minutes, the home keeper easily caught a Stan effort and it led to a Garforth advance which was cleared.
In 80 minutes, an Errington effort went just over the home bar. Into added time and a Garforth advance saw a shot blocked. They then put the ball over the Stan bar from a corner. Garforth were denied again during the last move of the match in the 95th minute when Brass made a great save to ensure the Stan earned a point and kept a clean sheet against good opponents.
Both teams tried hard to win the match but could not break down each other’s defence. Kane Evans efforts in defence earned him man of the match although special praise also has to be given to keeper Lewis Brass. The Stan are still 2nd bottom but a home win on Wednesday against 6th bottom Pontefract would probably leave them only in the bottom 4 on goal difference.
Heaton Stannington: Brass, Evans, Groves, Marriott, Capewell, Shepherd, Payne, Slaughter (C) (Hopper 65), Adamson (Lamb 71), Stephenson (Burn 9), Errington.
Unused Subs: Turnbull, Anderson.
Supporters Man Of The Match: Kane Evans.
Yellow Cards: Marriott, Slaughter, Payne, Evans
Referee: A. Tankard.
Attendance: 259.
Match Photos: Flickr.
Venue: Bannister Prentice Community Stadium, Cedar Ridge, Garforth LS25 2PF.
Kevin Mochrie