PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES 1-2 WORSBROUGH BRIDGE ATHLETIC
Koolsport Northern Counties East League – Division One
Monday 30th August 2010

Teams
COLLS                  BRIGGERS
1 Rob POULTER  1 Richard STAINTHORPE
2 Dean TWIBEY  2 Chris HILTON
3 Joe THORNTON  3 Liam McFADYEN
4 Duane GRACE  4 Shaun PIERREPOINT
5 Luke FORGIONE  5 Craig MARSH
6 Luke SMITH  6 Martyn SCULLY
7 Ryan POSKITT  7 Scott TURNER
8 Craig GOODYEAR  8 Jon GROOME
9 Carl FOTHERGILL  9 Adam PODMORE
10 Craig STEPHENS  10 Warren JACKSON
11 Jason BENTLEY  11 Matty ROBERTS
12 Lee GARSIDE (for Goodyear, 66m) 12 Jansen BERRY (for Podmore, 85m)
14 Connor ROLLINSON (for Grace, 70m) 14 Adam POLLOCK (for Jackson, 72m)
15 Rian SYKES 15 Danny CAWLEY (for Pierrepoint, 62m)
16 Shaun RUSSELL
17 Paul HAIGH

GOALS:
0-1 McFadyen 5m; 1-1 Stephens 12m; 1-2 McFadyen 70m

Half-Time: 1-1
Full-Time: 1-2

BOOKINGS:
Bentley, Smith (Ponte)

Pontefract Collieries lost to bogey side Worsbrough Bridge on Saturday as their winless home run against the Barnsley side continued. Ponte never hit the ground running all game, and resorted to high long balls forward to try and salvage something from the game, but in truth even a point may have been an unjust reward for a poor display.

After just three minutes, a long ball into the box was not dealt with by the defence, allowing LIAM McFADYEN an easy header into goal from all of two yards out.

However, Ponte’s response was immediate, Carl Fothergill looking full of running and putting the defence under pressure earned a corner. A possible handball by Martyn Scully in the box was not given however. The Colls still looked weak at the back, and a breakaway by Scott Turner saw his great low cross almost converted by Adam Podmore, but his point blank shot was superbly turned away by Ponte stopper Rob Poulter.

This seemed to galvanise the Colls from this let off, as they pressed forward, and Fothergill’s shot was blocked and spooned high into the air by a Worsbrough defender, coming back off his own crossbar to concede a corner.

From the corner, CRAIG STEPHENS glanced a superb header beyond Richard Stainthorpe at the near post to put Ponte back on level terms, and earn Ponte’s number 11 his second in two games after just twelve minutes.

Then, there came a spell where Ponte struggled to maintain possession of the football. Worsbrough were camped in the hosts’ half for a good 15 minute spell, Turner having an effort easily saved and Jon Groome heading high over the bar when left unmarked.

Stephens almost put in an inch perfect cross for Fothergill at the other end, but Stainthorpe managed to get their first – just. It was a mere let off for now though as almost straight away, Podmore nearly got the visitors’ second. Dean Twibey had to be at his absolute best to stop the striker getting his shot away.

Ponte had now started to pump the ball into the air a bit more, but Jason Bentley and Ryan Poskitt were still full of running when on the ball, the former nearly forcing Scully to hit the back of his own net, before he then had another shot blocked.

The Colls were now resorting almost fully to long ball tactics, and this worked right into Worsbrough’s hands as the visitors finished the first half the stronger of the two sides. Rob Poulter was at full stretch to tip a Craig Marsh header around the post, before Luke Forgione had to head a dangerous free-kick behind for a corner. Luckily, the referee called for the free-kick as if the official had played the advantage rule, Worsbrough would have almost definitely re-took the lead.

Half-Time: Ponte 1-1 Worsbrough

The second half saw Ponte start with a spell of pressure in the Worsbrough half, forcing a couple of corners but not really making Stainthorpe make any saves of note. However, Fothergill was nearly in as the visiting custodian made a real hash of gathering the ball, and dropped twice but unfortunately Ponte’s striker couldn’t get their first.

A great drive forward from Ponte home debutant Luke Smith saw the defence open up in front of him, inviting the shot, but at the last minute the effort was blocked. After this, it was all Worsbrough as they seemed to take control of the game.

Warren Jackson and Matty Roberts both hit good shots that were just over the bar, before Podmore easily got through the defence and, when one-on-one with Poulter, blasted his shot against the crossbar. Thankfully, the winger had been deemed offside in the build up.

It was only a brief respite though as Ponte couldn’t clear their lines in the area and the dangerous Podmore was clearly tripped inside the area, giving the referee no option but to award the penalty. McFADYEN did the honours from the spot, sending Poulter the wrong way with 20 minutes still to play.

Manager Simon Houghton made a couple of changes to try and get something out of the game, introducing Lee Garside and Connor Rollinson and it was the former who made the biggest impression, getting a free header at the far post but the effort was too tame and easily collected by Stainthorpe.

At the toher end, Scully hit a free-kick just inches wide of the post, but it was Garside who was still making the most telling contribution. The striker had another two free headers, one hit wide, the other bouncing just over the bar.

Just before the end, ex-Ponte player Jansen Berry broke the offside trap but the defence got back to block just in time. Overall, a very poor display from a Ponte side who just cannot break their home duck against Worsbrough. Thankfully for the Colls, their next two games are against sides right at the bottom end of the table. This Saturday they travel to Scunthorpe to take on Appleby Frodingham, before they host last season’s bottom Premier Division club, Brodsworth Welfare on Tuesday 7th.

Full-Time: Ponte 1-2 Worsbrough