Manager Steve Nichol made only one personnel change for this game - Lawrance Hunter replacing David Brown up front, Brown being named as sub.

Unsurprisingly given the permutations both teams looked to attack from the start, but initially forward moves were lacking a final ball or denied early by solid defending.

The first chance came to Garforth on 9 mins. From an Oliver Hotchkiss free kick on the left the ball floated to Matthew Plummer who headed just wide.

By this time Skelmersdale had found a hole in the Town defence on their right wing and exploited this to effect a minute later to take the lead. Kenny Strickland made a run down the left and crossed the ball into the box. With the home defence napping the ball was duly bundled home by striker Josh Hine from about 8 yards.

Town seemed shocked by this early setback but our attackers continued to harry the Skem defenders and keeper whenever they had the ball, forcing them into the occasional error. Hotchkiss was often the man springing Town attacks and after a quiet start Paul Walker would go on to put in his best performance of recent weeks.

From another free-kick on 18 mins, this time by Lawrance Hunter on the right the ball came to Plummer again who headed just wide of the upright. Almost immediately the away side looked for a second. An upfield ball down the inside left found Shaun Tuck about 30 yards out with only Ben Higginson to beat. Tuck chipped the Miners' custodian but the ball flashed narrowly wide.

Another move down our exposed left saw Joseph Evans charge down this flank and deliver a ball into Hine who headed wide.

Two great chances for the home side came around 30 mins in. Walker chested down the ball in the area to Jamie Price who ran to the byeline and squared to Hunter who's tame shot was gathered by away keeper Sam Ashton. A minute later Walker received a headed clearance, beat a couple of defenders on the left hand side of the box and try to beat Ashton but his shot flashed across goal and wide.

On 35 mins Town found the all-important equaliser after great work by Walker and Andy Villerman. Walker recieved the ball in the middle of the park, beat several defenders and square left to Villerman. The ex-Ossett Town man put in a superb ball across goal which was converted by Walker via a deflection.

The Lancashiremen had a penalty claim waved away when Tuck tried to beat Higginson and the approaching keeper diverted the ball from under his feet. The divison's top scorer went down but despite his appeals the referee produced a yellow card for diving.

One final scare came in first half injury time when Higginson denied Williams with a great save.

So 1-1 at half time and news had started to filter around the terraces that Lancaster were beating a scratch Warrington side 3-0. With a hammering looking likely only a victory for either team would be enough.

Garforth started the second half the better side and duly took the lead on 49 mins. Hotchkiss recieved the ball near the centre circle and found Priestley who raced clear of the defence and beat Ashton with a low shot from about 20 yards out. Town could've had a third (and Priestley a second) soon afterwards when a Price cross from a corner was headed just over by the ex-Sherburn man.

The away side still looked dangerous on attacks however. On 56 mins Chris Almond received the ball from a throw-in on the right and tried a thunderous long range effort but Higginson managed to tip it over the bar. The resulting corner however saw us counter-attack and we were unlucky not to extend the lead. The ball came to Walker on the inside the right. The striker beat several defenders before squaring to Hunter but his low shot was blocked off the line by Lewis Field.

The Lancashiremen had a second penalty appeal waved away on 60 mins when Almond came under challenge from Plummer.

It had become the away side's turn to press for a goal. Williams won the ball from Chris Walton on the left and crossed into the box. The ball was headed away by Villerman only to find Joseph Evans on the right. Evans tried a volley and forced a great save from Higginson.

The away side at that point couldn’t find a way through and the frustration seemed to get the better of some when Louis Corrigan completely lost his head. The defender went in two-footed on Priestley, pull the shirt of the subsequently grounded striker before pushing the approaching Price in the face. All in front of referee Ken Haycock who promptly sent him off.

The momentum of the game seemed to wing in The Miners’ favour. On 84 mins substitute David Brown nearly put the result beyond doubt. Walker was still giving the away defence a torrid time; recieving the ball from Hotchkiss on the left he dribbled past a defender into the box before playing in Brown who’s strike hit the outside of the post.

A final scare for the home crowd came two mins later when Walton conceded a free kick about 25 yards out. Williams tried a low shot through the wall which was just about gathered by Higginson.

Things became even more stressful for the home support when the referee signalled for five mins of injury time! Happily Garforth managed to survive further pressure and the final whistle was greeted with jubilant celebrations from players and fans. Lancaster managed the four-goal win they required meaning had the game finished a draw both sides would’ve missed out. A harsh outcome as both sides had put so much into the game, but our victory made this irrelevant and books us into a play-off semi-final on Monday at Curzon Ashton.