Garforth Town 1
Bradford Park Avenue 1
(aet – Garforth win 5-4 on pens)

Garforth approached the Woodlesford final sitting 16th in Division One North of the UniBond League and big underdogs against free-spending Bradford Park Avenue.

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Avenue are 32 league places and one division higher but the Premier Division play-off chasers were felled through a dramatic penalty shoot-out, late into the night at Fleet Lane.

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Goalless after 90 minutes, ex-Avenue striker Andy Hayward had the noisy Garforth contingent in raptures when netting from a 112th-minute corner but Mark Bett fired home three minutes later to take the game to spot-kicks.

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Bradford's regular penalty taker Bett then had the opportunity to prove the shoot-out hero following Mark Piper's miss but Bett blazed over and Clifford's side tasted glory in sudden death.

Tom Birch was the unlucky villain for Avenue – skying Bradford's sixth penalty over the crossbar – and Clifford felt last night's cup victory suddenly painted his side's underachieving season in a totally different gloss.

"Both years I have been here we have had promotions but you can see where we are in the league this year – we are nowhere near," said Clifford.

"I haven't enjoyed the league season that much but this makes up for it.
"This is for the players and the supporters and I am absolutely delighted.

"I'm so proud of the players and they work so hard. Perhaps one or two of the players that Bradford Park Avenue have earn the same in a week as our entire squad.

"We only pay £600-700 a week – we are the lowest payers in our league so we've got to compensate for that with hard work.

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"I think our fitness told as well and over the 90 minutes and the 120 minutes we are the team that deserved to win.

"I'm so proud of how hard they worked and they are a terrific bunch of lads."

Beaten finalists last year against Harrogate Town, Avenue were severely understrength with Jamie Price, Amjad Iqbal, Stephen Downes, Andy Campbell and Chris Hall among those missing with Bett, Chris Stabb, James Knowles and Matty James benched.

For all their possession, Lee Sinnott's side consequently lacked a cutting edge despite Roy Stamer going close and something of a mini-bombardment towards the end of the first period of extra-time when Luke Gibbons made a fine triple save.

Substitute James made a huge difference once introduced on 75 minutes, his stinging shot parried to set up Bett's equaliser, but Garforth gave as good as they got and Hayward so nearly won the contest in normal time when his shot squirmed just wide with two minutes to go.

Town's vociferous supporters almost gave their side a home match atmosphere and Clifford paid tribute to their efforts as well as stating his deep feeling for his football club.

"The supporters really came out in force and I love Garforth," added Clifford. "I love the fact that I bought the club. I'm glad that I have been able to give something to the supporters after what has been a long season and I couldn't be happier.

"The two promotions that I have got – this would be equal to those and we've had a tough run – every game that we have played in the competition has been away apart from the semi-final and we have played tough opposition.

"I am absolutely delighted."

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Avenue assistant John Deacey paid tribute to Clifford and Garforth but stressed his side had a more pressing target in sealing their place in the UniBond Premier Division play-offs.

"I'm not really too bothered and you could see with the side we put out to be fair," said Deacey.

"I'm not just saying that and it's no disrespect to Garforth but we've got bigger fish to fry.

"We tried to make it a competitive game, it's been a good night and Garforth have played a major part in it.

"The boys that have come in have done a good job, especially the five or six guys from the reserves who have shown up very well.

"Garforth have done very well and congratulations to them.

"They have come up through the leagues – it is nice to see and he (Simon) has done a good job there."

BRADFORD PA: Worsnop, Nix (Bett 99), Fisher, Birch, Haran (Knowles 60), Hollingworth, Bairstow, Claisse, Gibson, Stamer (James 75), Whitehouse. Subs not used: Stabb, Abbott.

GARFORTH TOWN: Gibbons, George Williams (Kelly 45), Kamara, Connor (Clarke 78 , Tiani 105), Renshaw, Duncan Williams, Blair, Harrett, Piper, Hayward, Fox. Subs not used: Fella, Jagger.

REFEREE: Nigel Bannister.