In an experimental Garforth line-up Mick Jones was made captain for the night and in response to our current lack of firepower was pushed forward. Jack McCarthy and Khalid Alali were given starts whilst there was a return from injury for midfielder Jordan Outerbridge who lined up on the bench. Good news after George Conway's recall by Tadcaster this week.

In a positive start to the game for both teams Tom Osborne's mis-kick six mins in came straight to Danny Norton who could only scuff the ball wide from a good position. Down the other end striker for the night Jones was sent through a couple of times but wasn't able to trouble Barton goalkeeper Rob Zand, or was denied even that by a repeatedly-raised offside flag. Around the 15 min mark Norton's 20-yard overhead kick went just wide and Gareth Owen forced a block from Osborne at close range from a Norton cross.

On 21 mins there was almost a repeat of Tim Robertson's spectacular goal of Saturday when he found himself in similar range, his low effort inches wide. A decent foray down the left by Mark Simpson on 32 mins forced a defensive clearance at close range. A couple of corners were then forced, one ending in Ashley Preece having a good header saved.

Good pressure from Town, but the lack of end-product was to end in an all-too familiar story. A Swans break forward on 39 mins ended in Alex Sherwood supplying Owen to lash home past Osborne at his near post. Four mins later it was 2-0 courtesy of the same man, a cross deflecting off a defender to put him clean through to finish low into the corner of the net. A slice of luck for the striker which rarely seems to come our way.

In contrast to Saturday the two goals seemed to take the wind out of our sails, and there was little in the second half to excite the sparse home crowd. Whilst Owen's two goals were arguably against the run of play, in truth he should've completed his hattrick on 47 mins when let in by a defensive error but could only shoot wide with just Osborne to beat.

There was a moment of controversy three mins later when Simpson looked to have been fouled on the edge of the penalty area, the referee ruled out a penalty, but the linesman had his flag raised for an offence only for the ref to ignore it or the linesman giving up on his hunch.

Around the hour mark a curling effort from Robertson was claimed by Zand, and for the visitors captain Bradley Ricketts shot wide. In a second half lacking in quality the next clear-cut chance didn't arrive for either team until 81 mins when Owen smashed over the bar after making a run down the right. A minute later a decent through ball from Robertson almost picked out Danny Harris but Zand was quick out of his goal to deny him. In the final few minutes sub Outerbridge's long range effort went wide and Norton made a good chance for himself when finding space in the box but his shot flashed across goal and wide.

A disappointing evening for Adie Costello's side against a fellow team not in the greatest of form and also missing some of their bigger names. A third home game on the bounce follows on Saturday when we host Clipstone (kick-off 3pm).