Garforth head coach Graham Nicholas admits AFC Emley victory was a "confidence booster"

Hat-trick hero Nick Black in action

AFC Emley Development Squad 1-5 Garforth Town

By James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson)

Match Photos are HERE

Garforth Town head coach Graham Nicholas admitted the Nostell Tournament semi-final victory over Emley was a huge morale-booster and erased memories of the Yorkshire Amateur horror show.

A Nick Black hat-trick and coolly taken goals from Storhey and Joshua Greenhalgh – who also missed a penalty – put smiles back on the faces of those involved with the Miners.

Garforth will now face Ossett Town, who beat Nostell Miners Welfare, in the final tomorrow (Sunday) and Nicholas said: “I think the lads needed it (a confidence boost).

“Reflecting on Thursday, pre-season is always difficult because you’re going into every game with diferent players. But today I was happy with the squad I had in place. I always say pre-season is not about result, it’s about performances and making sure the players do their jobs.

“On Thursday I went without some key players and the team was unbalanced and I went with a new formation. I gave some of the fringe players a chance to shine and they didn’t and as a result they’ve gone.

“Looking back on Thursday, that result was unacceptable and that performance can’t happen again.

“It was a fantastic result today, but it was more of a case of can the players do their role and be disciplined. They’ve done it today and I’m really pleased.

“It was superb coming off that seeing the supporters applauding you and all the players. They were smiling and they were all happy. I felt for them on Thursday night.”

Three goals were scored within three minutes of each with ten minutes on the clock. Black ran through to initially put Garforth ahead before a tremendous long range strike from Danny Kaye levelled matters.

Thursday night saw Garforth capitulate – against a young Emley side, the Miners didn’t and quickly regained the lead and never looked back. Black again broke through and scored with a good finish.

Former Glasshoughton goalkeeper Jordan Robson had to make a couple of saves for Garforth, but Town continued to play well and effectively finished the job just before half-time.

Alex Booker impressed again and his shot was saved by Emley stopper Adam Lawler and Black was on hand to score his third goal.

And if things couldn’t get any better, Nicholas was in dreamland when right-back Gary Stohrer made an enchanting run down the right-wing before cutting inside and firing the ball into the top corner for goal number four.

Josh Greenhalgh celebrates his goal

The game was won and a poor second half saw Greenhalgh steal the show. After the hour he was brought down for a penalty which he blazed over the bar. But, he managed to redeem with himself by breaking through and keeping his composure to round the goalkeeper and score.

AFC Emley: Lawlor, Kemp, Harrison, Storie, McLoughlin, Wordsworth, Rose, Irving, Crossfield, Ratcliffe, Kaye. Subs: D Lewis, J Lewis, Hawk, Stevenson.

Garforth Town: Robson, Stohrer, Misambu, Allen, Conte, Greenhalgh, Stevensh, McMurrough, Black, Booker, Sinmi. Subs: Newell, Woodhall, Bracken, Balis.

Referee: S Mercer

Man of the match: Nick Black (Garforth)