Garnett made a welcome return to action after a three-week absence with a hard earned win over a very competitive Darsley side at Benson Park. Garnett won more comfortably than the score line suggested but had to work harder than any other time this season to achieve the victory.
The Green and Black were strengthened by the return of goal scoring legend Danny Sherwood who justified the decision to put him straight in the starting line up by creating the first two goals and scoring the third.

In the first half Darsley were very impressive going forward and dominated possession only the tireless running of Dave Mercer and fit again Tim Burke-Murphy in midfield to continually frustrate their talented midfielders. "Tart" Almond back in his favoured central defence role and Shaun Cavanagh were often at full stretch to contain Darsley's powerful centre forward and his talented side kick but did so successfully as Darsley did not test keeper Michael Crammond in the first half. Luckily Darsley were not so impressive at the back where the pace and movement of Sherwood and David Alexander caused them constant problems as they were continually caught square. Garnett took an early lead, when an Alexander corner was retrieved by Sherwood. His excellent in swinging cross was nodded in by Cavanagh for the simplest of goals, with the keeper stranded. Shewood was again the creator when he won possession from a poor clearance to drive in a low cross, which was missed by Alexander for Rich Watson to alertly slot under the keeper, a goal his off the ball running deserved. Garnett's third was a great goal, Alexander brilliantly flicked on a Crammond kick into the path of Sherwood who rounded the onrushing keeper to gleefully smash the ball into an empty net.

Garnett were worth their half time lead on chances but not on possession. The second half was a different story with Garnett dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Darsley never gave up and kept themselves in the game by scoring with three of their four shots. The first directly after half time was a powerful shot on the turn that deflected over Crammond. The second another deflected shot after Garnett had failed to clear their lines to make it 4-2 then a couple of fortuitous bounces left their centre forward one on one with Crammond to make it 4-3. The ever-consistent Craig Rowson had scored Garnett's fourth after chesting down an Alexander flick to volley home with his right foot. a fitting reward for another excellent performance. Sub Jason Thompson lashed home the clinching fifth after the ball playing pair of Almond and Mercer had set him up.
It should have been many more with Thompson missing a one on one, failing to react when the keeper fumbled an Andy Logan cross shot, Alexander trying to walk the ball in a couple of times and Mercer failing to lob the keeper when he was 20 yards out of goal.

All in all, it was a very pleasing win, despite letting the three goals in. Everybody worked hard and played well against a physical side with excellent strikers and midfielders.

Team: M.Crammond, R.Cusworth, P.Curtis, T.Burke-Murphy (B.Mallie), J.Almond MOM, S.Cavanagh 1, R.Watson 1(A.Logan), D.Mercer, D.Sherwood 1 (J.Thompson 1), D.Alexander, C.Rowson 1