With Ashley Preece (groin injury), Danny Harris (illness) and Sinmi Oyebanji all unavailable, Garforth's midfield was virtually wiped out despite the best efforts of Thomas Smith and promising new signing Jordan Outerbridge.

Athersley almost took the lead two minutes in when Ben Hunter failed to deal with a left wing cross but the home side couldn't take advantage and the Garforth defence managed to clear the danger.

It was a frustrating night for striker Curtly Martin-Wyatt who toiled up front with little reward for his efforts; on four mins a decent foray down the right saw him put in a good ball into the six yard box, but Athersley keeper Neal May was equal to it.

A glorious chance fell to The Penguins' Adam Podmore on 7 mins when he broke clear down the right but blazed over the bar. On 14 mins Hunter saved a Ryan White effort onto the post, the ball thankfully rebounding back into his arms. In a good spell for the Barnsley side Jack Owen really should've put them in front three mins later when racing clear with only Hunter to beat, but he too smashed over. Our keeper was called into action again on 21 mins, tipping over a long range strike from defender Martyn Scully.

Town suffered a further setback on 26 mins when defender Sam Clarkson came off injured, and with no defenders on the bench, was replaced by striker Matt Marshall. Hunter denied Jack Briscoe's powerful 30-yarder moments later, but it was no surprise when Athersley took the lead on the half-hour. A left wing cross evaded the Miners' defence, leaving Scully to smash home at the far post.

The home side had chances to double their lead in the following minutes, but weren't taken. Garforth were limited to short spell in each half, the first on 37 mins when a counter attack ended in Marshall having a shot blocked by May; Martin-Wyatt firing the loose ball just over the bar. A minute later it was 2-0 when a loose ball from a blocked shot fell to Podmore who found the corner of the net with a low strike.

Martin-Wyatt came close three mins from half time after another powerful run, putting a low shot just beyond the far post.

A difficult task for the second half was made harder only two mins in when Owen slotted home a right wing corner at the far post to make it 3-0. And on the hour mark Scully had his second goal to make it four, converting from close range Thomas Almond's delivery.

In the second good spell Thomas Smith forced a routine save from May with a curling shot from the edge of the box on 68 mins, and from Tim Robertson's free kick on 75 mins defender Nathan Kilby shot wide via a deflection.

Three minutes later though the scoring was completed when substitute Ryan Smith raced clear and beat Hunter with a low shot.

It was a good team performance from the hosts, who themselves suffered a 4-0 reverse here at the weekend. Difficult times for the Miners at the minute but Adie is expected to have more players available to him this Saturday for the tough trip to Runcorn.