Admittedly Town made hard work of it, but the win was well overdue after the frustrations of Whitley Bay (twice), Pontefract Collieries and Shildon in the competition in recent years.

Garforth started well and took the lead fifteen minutes in. An attack down the middle saw Sam Barker play in Charlie Marshall who fired home at the near post. If there was one thing missing from last season, it was a long-range "Dexter Special", and the midfielder came up with one four minutes later to make it two. His strike evaded the dive of Northallerton 'keeper Oliver Simpson to find the bottom corner for his first goal in just over eighteen months. Jamie Barkway was unlucky not to make it three on 26 mins when he got on the end of Matt Antcliff's corner and his header hit the crossbar.

There were a couple of half-chances for the visitors towards the end of the half - James Coatsworth found himself in space after the referee played advantage from Barker's challenge, but his shot was well over the bar. Kieran Parnaby also had sight of goal when a left wing cross was half-cleared but his effort too was over. If Simpson was disappointed with his part in the goals, he redeemed himself as the match went on to prevent us running away with it. Further chances for Town saw Ball make his way into the box and try to find Marshall, but his pass inside was well held by Simpson. In injury time Fadera used his pace to latch onto a crossfield ball and try to pick out Marshall, but with the midfielder close by it instead came off a defender and into the grateful arms of the keeper.

On 55 mins Barker saw an effort denied by Simpson after being played in from the left, the rebound falling to Fadera whose effort was over the bar. A double save from Simpson denied Marshall and Barker shortly after sub Sam Cable held the ball up, although we were penalised for offside. Cable was in with a glorious chance to finally put the game out of our opponent's reach, picked out by Marshall's delivery deep in the box he could only blaze over the bar.

A couple more Northallerton chances followed who posed more of a threat second half, but their finishing continued to let them down. A Leo Myers header from Lewis Cocks' cross floated just wide of the far post, before a deflected Myers strike from a corner was saved by Flatters. On 74 mins Adam Walker shot wide of the near post after beating a man down the left. A trademark Marshall curling effort was just beyond the far post when played in by Davis, then sub James Burgess saw his header from Davis' free kick saved.

On 90 mins there was almost a nerve-racking finish when 'allerton subs Sean Chidanyika and Joe Dixon combined for the latter to head against the crossbar, but in any case Dixon was penalised for pulling back a defender.

Tougher tests will follow this season, but Paul Marshall's side got the job done and we head into a Preliminary Round tie against NPL East stablemates Heaton Stannington here in LS25 on Saturday 17th August. Before that, the league season kicks off this Saturday when we entertain Liversedge (kick-off 3pm).