Garnett shocked Northern Alliance Premiership leaders with a magnificent victory. This is undoubtedly the greatest performance and result in the history of the club, as the Green and Black deservedly beat a semi-professional team top of the league that the University 1sts prop up.
Every player was a credit to the club in terms of their commitment and performance.

Before the game Garnett players were quietly determined to compete and put up a performance for the club but few outside the visiting dressing room could have expected anything other than a comfortable victory for the home side. Garnett were at almost full available strength but reeling from the loss of three key players for the rest of the season. Keeper Michael Crammond had joined Whitley Bay, left back Peter Curtis has had to hang up his boots until next September due to Phd pressures and club captain Tim Burke-Murphy has decided to postpone the final year of his degree until next September. Only the unavailable Andy Logan was missing with Alex Martin dropping down to the reserves and David Alexander taking the subs shirt. Garnett fielded trialist keeper James Poole and Benfield loanee Paul Towns at left back.

Garnett set their stall early defending deep in two lines of four with Danny Sherwood playing in the withdrawn striker role behind Jason Thompson. The plan was to get 10 men behind the ball at every opportunity and catch Benfield on the break. This plan worked a treat as in addition to three of the goals, Garnett created three other one on ones as the home defence were continually caught square, while despite Benfield's domination of possession, movement and obvious technical ability they rarely threatened to get behind the well organized defence. Their goals came from a well worked corner regime and two powerful long range shots, one of the wonder variety.

The Green and Black started confidently and showed a willingness to play the ball to feet but fell behind to their Achilles heel, the second ball from a corner, after about ten minutes. Sherwood had already missed a wonderful headed chance from a peach of a Neil Hindley cross and a open goal after Thompson had skinned his marker and laid the ball across goal. At the time, it was thought these misses might be costly but Garnett struck to their plan and continued to create chances. Towns a supremely skilled and confident left back smashed in an equalizer from 25 yards much to his delight, this was just the boost the Green and Black required.

Sherwood and Thompson both broke through one on one with the keeper but were denied by excellent keeping, as Garnett continued to create the clearer chances. Shortly before half time Sherwood played through Thompson who beat the onrushing keeper with a deft chip to give Garnett a shock lead but on chances created deserved half time lead.

As expected Benfield came out with more determination in the second half and really began to show their quality but Garnett defended with real determination. Skipper Rich Cusworth and centre half Sean Cavanagh organized the resistance superbly while both producing high level performances, James Almond in his last game before going to work in Egypt had his best game of the season while Towns was clearly determined to win the individual battles. The midfield was the key however showing tactical discipline and industry in equal measure, and importantly rarely giving away possession cheaply. Dave Mercer played the midfield anchor man role perfectly curtailing his natural instinct to power forward and rarely allowing an opponent running at the Garnett back four. Craig Rowson, up against an ex-football League player, and Rich Watson got through a prodigious amount of work and were always alert to danger while being ready to join the counter attack. Hindley had probably his best game ever in a Green and Black shirt, being the fulcrum of most of the passing movements.

Benfield continued to mount on the pressure but only really looked really dangerous from corners and long range, though Poole made one fine save from the only one or one allowed. They scored twice in succession with powerful long range efforts, the second a quickly taken free kick from 35 yards a goal of the highest quality that Beckham would have been proud. At this point it seemed Benfield might run away with things but the Green and Black came back fighting, Watson sent Thompson away on the right and he out paced his man played the ball across for Sherwood to gleefully slot home against the club that released him earlier in the season. With substitute Alexander quickly adapting to the pace of the game, Garnett continued to probe and it came as no surprise to the sideline (which included Legend Sammy Haillay) when Hindley once again played in Sherwood who out muscled his marker and chipped the keeper with aplomb, silencing the Akinbyi chants he had heard before the game.

The Green and Black then held on for a memorable victory. Apologists will say that Benfield were playing the game as a training match, rested their two first choice centre halves and top keeper and the game was on astro but this will never detract from the fact that Garnett beat the best non league team in the city whose players get paid to play!

Team: J.Poole, R.Cusworth ©, P.Towns 1, N.Hindley, J.Almond, S.Cavanagh, R.Watson, D.Mercer, D.Sherwood 2, J.Thompson 1, C.Rowson
Sub: D.Alexander