Rinor Ejupi returned to the starting eleven in preference to Alex Zachariou, as was Sam Cable over Matt Antcliff in attack. Jay Davis donned the number 4 shirt to cover for the unavailable Dexter Ball, with Charlie Marshall replacing Davis in turn after being a substitute in the goalless draw at Consett in midweek.

In a scrappy first half, both sides enjoyed chances but largely without troubling either keeper. A curling shot from Heaton Stannington's Louis Anderson was just over the bar early on from Daniel Sayer's cross, then Sam Barker - making his 150th appearance for the club - likewise shot over when set up by Charlie Marshall after the visitors had given the ball away. The end result was the same when Jay Davis tried his luck from 35 yards, then from a Marshall effort after some good Town play on the edge of the box. The visitors looked to have taken the lead after Konner Lamb's deft finish over Harry Flatters from another Sayer assist found the net, but the striker was ruled to be offside. Marshall came close once again moments later after a well-worked move by Sam Cable and Max Tweddle along the edge of the box, his low strike going just beyond the far post.

A game-changer arrived on 34 mins when Harry Viggars was ruled to have used his hands to prevent Lamb converting the rebound after Flatters parried to his left Sayer's effort on goal. A penalty was awarded with Viggars given a straight red card. Leighton Hopper stepped up and converted to give the Tynesiders the lead. The Miners were forced to roll up their sleeves with ten minutes remaining until half time, but other than Jamie Barkway and an opponent receiving treatment for head injuries in the final seconds, there was no further damage.

Tweddle curled a free kick just wide after Barker was tripped 20 yards out three minutes into the second period, then down the other end Anderson's low shot was just beyond the far post after Town had conceded possession in their own half. There were penalty appeals on 54 mins when Barker looked to have been pulled back by Kailem Beattie, but the referee was unmoved. Against opponents seemingly reluctant to go for the kill despite their numerical advantage, Town were struggling to create with a Cable strike which floated well wide on 58 mins summing up proceedings. Further enforced changes at the back came about on 62 mins when bandaged defender Barkway couldn't continue and was replaced by Alex Zachariou who joined the only remaining centre-back Joe Smith. The introduction shortly before of Matt Antcliff sparked a gradual revival however. Barker was inches away from connecting with Ejupi's ball into the box, but we had to survive a good chance for The Stan to put the contest to bed on 71 mins when Daniel Stephenson hit the post after the Garforth defence struggled to clear their lines. Shortly after that captain Dan Coupland shot well wide after Antcliff went down the left.

Another Saturday and another star turn off the bench, this time by midfielder Mo Fadera who's had trials for York City in the past couple of weeks. Replacing Ejupi, he proceeded to give the visitors a torrid time with his pace and gave them a scare six minutes from the end when hitting the post after twisting and turning his way into the box. With a minute to go and Town looking to be staring at an FA Cup exit, Fadera went one better. Making a run in from the right, his shot found the bottom corner of the net to keep us in the hat for Monday's 1st Qualifying Round draw. There was even a chance for a late Town winner when Barker's shot was saved by keeper Lewis Brass after sub James Burgess was denied in the box.

Both sides will now have to do it all again at Grounsell Park this evening, with a massive home tie against Bury FC the reward for the winner (kick-off 7:45pm).