This was Pontefracts' first game since the exit of manager and former captain Nick Handley.
It was also Garforth manager Adie Costellos' first test in the NCEL premier League.

New signings Harry McMillan and Nathan Kilby made their debuts in the Garforth lineup, while Sam Clarkson and Matt Marshall returned to the squad, joining Thomas Smith on the bench.

After a heavy night of rain a pitch inspection was passed at 10am, but the downpour continued throughout the day, to make conditions tricky to say the least.

The first effort of the game was a twenty yarder from Tim Robertson that cleared the bar, but was close enough to worry Ponte keeper Ellis Halpine.
It was the home side that adapted quicker to the conditions though and on eight minutes Jack Mawson managed to wriggle through the Miners' back line and give his side the lead.

By the half hour mark Pontefract had gained a seemingly unassailable lead thanks to Lima Radfords' shot under Ben Hunter and a tap-in from Mawson.

This Garforth side have character though and began to claw their way back. Sinmi Oyebanji and Danny Harris were getting plenty of joy down the wings and the two combined to start the fightback, Sinmi prodding home Harris' pass.

Curtly Martin-Wyatt placed a diving header the wrong side of the post, but minutes later he was on hand to finish off a fine cross from Oyebanji on the stroke of half time. Game on!

When Luke Danville nodded in a simple header on sixty minutes it could have ended the competition, but Radford lost the plot and got himself sent off for a challenge on Ashley Preece.

The second half was littered with Pontefract bookings, most notably when Harris was taken out while driving in on goal and when Martin-Wyatt was scythed down as he rounded Halpine.
Curtly dusted himself down and netted the resulting penalty.

Unfortunately for Town, time was against them and Pontefract held on for victory.