Stephens shines as Ponte go top
Pontefract Collieries 4:0 Brodsworth Welfare

Pontefract Collieries followed up their 5:0 away win at Appleby Frodingham with another convincing win against Brodsworth Welfare to move to the top of the Northern Counties East League Division One, with Craig Stephens providing a masterclass of creative forward play to complement a good all-round team performance.

Collieries Manager Simon Houghton gave a home debut to new signing Josh Wright, who had put in an outstanding display on his full debut at the weekend’s trip to Scunthorpe, and a full debut to new goalkeeper Ben Simpson, a recent signing from Frickley Athletic. With Luke Forgione dropping to the bench after aggravating a groin strain during the warm-up, the defence had an unfamiliar look, with Simpson lining up behind usual suspects Twibey and captain Nicky Handley, but with Paul Staniforth in an unfamiliar central defensive role and Luke Smith slotting in at left back.

However, if the defence had a makeshift appearance on the teamsheet, they looked anything but makeshift in reality, being rarely troubled throughout the ninety minutes, and looking solid as a unit and capable as individuals; Staniforth composed alongside the cool hand of Handley, Twibey and Smith providing good attacking options to complement solid defensive duties, and Simpson delivering an assured performance for a debutant.

Although the defence provided a solid platform for the team, the headline performances were delivered by the attacking unit. The scene for the match was set in the first minute, when Saturday’s star performer Wright shot from 25 yards, to see his effort spilled by the Brodsworth keeper Ross Adamson. Craig Stephens followed the ball in, but could not quite get his toe to the ball before a relieved Adamson gathered it in. Once the initial exchanges settled down, Pontefract took over, with Bentley’s pace proving a thorn in Brodsworth’s side. Fed by Josh Wright, Bentley escaped his marker to run through on goal, only to see his shot beat both keeper and post. Minutes later, Bentley was fed by a well-directed header from Lee Garside, only to see his effort fly the wrong side of the post for a second time. When Adamson seemingly unable to hold onto a cross, and Bentley leaving the Welfare defence standing, Pontefract started to focus on getting the ball wide to pepper crosses into the area and drop the ball behind the defensive line for Bentley to chase.

With such dominance, the game was half an hour old before Colls conceded a corner.  When they did, Craig Stephens dealt with the cross comfortably. Meanwhile, back at the other end, Colls created opening after opening: first, Ryan Poskitt’s cross being taken on the chest by Garside, who volleyed over the bar when he seemed destined to score; then Stephens providing a clever flick on to Bentley, who shot over the bar. As the game passed the half-hour mark, it seemed as though the Brodsworth goal had been blessed as chance after chance went begging. However, when Stephens’ deftly nodded into the path of Bentley, the Ponte striker made up for his early near misses by calmly slotting home. It was no more than Bentley deserved, for a performance that had been full of energy and pace, and for maintaining his positive attitude and work-rate despite earlier misses.

The excellent Josh Wright almost doubled the lead within seconds, when he blasted a volley straight at Adamson, having been set up when Garside chested down a Poskitt cross into his path. With Stephens, Poskitt and Bentley combining well in triangles, the Brodsworth defence were again cut apart, with both Garside and Bentley missing further chances to extend the lead before Stephens did score. This time, the goal had an almost flukish quality: Stephens’ excellent inswinging delivery of a free-kick from the right-hand side beating strikers, defence and keeper alike to nestle in the bottom corner of the net. Stephens followed this with a sumptuous turn to beat two defenders, only to see his cross land safely in Adamson’s arms. As Simon Houghton addressed his team at half time, it was clear that his team were winning every individual and collective battle: the only concern was that they had failed to put the game beyond the reach of their opponents after a first half of complete dominance.

Any worries were allayed within seconds of the re-start, when Stephens bagged his second goal, slotting home calmly after a selfless lay-off from Garside. Bentley continued his “dangerous but profligate” theme by smashing a shot just wide of the upright, having been set through by a terrific Wright pass. With Bentley and Stephens combining well, the home team created further opportunities to extend their lead, with Bentley’s double effort being blocked by last-gasp defending.

Upon the hour, Simon Houghton rang the changes, adding Joe Thornton and Paul Haigh to the fray in place of Twibey and Poskitt, and re-shuffling his pack – dropping Bentley and Sykes back, to allow Stephens to join Garside up front. Both flanks prospered, with Bentley’s pace setting the Brodsworth left-back Thompson onto his haunches, while Thornton and Luke Smith combined creatively on the left, repeatedly breaching the defensive line with a series of overlaps and reverse passes. However, Thornton’s deliveries were spurned by Garside – whose left-foot shot was blocked – and Bentley, whose shot cleared the bar. Stephens then sent a delicious pass behind the right-back Swain into the path of Thornton, whose own shot was blocked by Adamson. The irony was not lost on the Pontefract players that it was Adamson, who had seemed so vulnerable in the opening exchanges, who was keeping the score in single figures by continually denying the Colls in the second half. When Garside sent a screaming 30-yard effort just wide of the post as the game entered its final 20 minutes, it seemed to provide a rallying cry for a final assault on the Brodsworth goal.

When Stephens won the ball on his own 18 yard line and released Wright, the midfielder ran a full 50 yards with the ball, leaving the trailing defence for dead, only to see his cross sail into the keeper’s arms. Luke Smith and Joe Thornton combined to set up Garside, whose shot was again blocked. As the game entered it’s last ten minutes, it was all about Stephens: firstly, he provided a microcosm of his match, killing a long ball as if his boots had been laced with superglue, before turning his marker with a classy sway of the hips and a drop of the shoulder, then bursting beyond two defenders. Alas, his finish also provided a microcosm of the match, as it sailed the wrong side of the bar! As Stephens sought his hat-trick, he shot wide after being played through by Thornton, then saw his 40-yard screamer fly just wide. In the 84^th minute, Colls did score a fourth, when Luke Smith calmly slotted home having timed his run to perfection.

Overall, Houghton was delighted with his team – in particular, with consecutive clean sheets at one end and the ability to seemingly create scoring opportunities at will at the other. In truth, the only thing that was missing was a scoreline that reflected his team’s dominance. He must feel that the pieces of his jigsaw are falling into place, and that his team are very close to peak performance. For example, if Bentley can add a ruthless finish to his exceptional play, he will be devastating – at times against Brodsworth, as in many games this season, he was unplayable. However, the outstanding performer was undoubtedly Stephens, who displayed a fantastic touch throughout, put in excellent work in the defensive third, created many attacking opportunities with great vision and pinpoint passes, and scored a brace which could, on any other day, have been the hat-trick that his performance deserved.

Pontefract Collieries:

Ben Simpson, Dean Twibey (repl. Joe Thornton, 59 mins), Luke Smith, Nicky Handley (capt), Paul Staniforth, Rian Sykes, Ryan Poskitt (repl. Paul Haigh, 59 mins), Josh Wright, Lee Garside, Jason Bentley, Craig Stephens

Subs not used:  Luke Forgione

Goals: Jason Bentley (32), Craig Stephens (40 & 46), Luke Smith (84)

Bookings: None