Pontefract Collieries 1:1 Appleby Frodingham
Northern Counties Eastern League Division One
Saturday 20th November, 2010

Ponte missed the opportunity to return to the top of the league by dropping another two points at home in their match against lowly Appleby Frodingham, but they had their inspirational ‘keeper to thank for ensuring that the damage was not worse.

Andrew Joburns – affectionately known to team-mates and supporters as “The Flying Pig” for his characteristic airborne heroics – made not one but two double saves in the dying minutes to deny the Scunthorpe team, and to preserve the Colls’ unbeaten run to a dozen league games. As the home team poured forward in search of a winner, they left gaps at the back for the visitors to exploit: twice they broke away, twice they appeared certain to score, and twice Joburns denied them, to further enhance his cult status amongst the growing band of Ponte supporters.

Even young Ruby Goodyear – enjoying her first outing with dad Craig, as the injured midfielder sat in the stands imploring his team-mates to find a breakthrough, could recognise a hero in the making. That Pontefract should need their goalkeeper to be the headline-maker and to be taking home the Man of the Match trophy against a team from the lower echelons of the league would be a source of frustration to Simon Houghton as his team once again failed to convince against lowly opponents at home.

Although the Pontefract pitch is amongst the poorest surfaces in the league, and certainly does not suit the Colls’ slick passing game, the players only had themselves to blame, as they once again failed to dominate the opening exchanges, despite creating an early opening in the first minute, when Joe Thornton’s cross fell harmlessly into the arms of Appleby ‘keeper Samir Own. Within four minutes, Ponte were behind, their defence failing to deal with a throw into their penalty area, indecision allowing Scott McKay the space to strike home following a scramble in the box.

The goal elicited a reaction from the team, as they forced a succession of corners, but were unable to capitalise as the ball consistently struck the first man. They did create an opening for Nicky Handley when a Luke Smith free kick was cleared to the Ponte skipper, who volleyed wide with his left foot. Ryan Poskitt created a chance for Jason Bentley, when the winger used his lightning fast feet to trip around Lee Beacroft before delivering a cross onto Bentley’s head. The striker did everything right, directing his header low and to the keeper’s right, but Own was equal to it, diving to smother the effort and preserve his side’s lead.

Bentley turned provider in the 20^th minute, when his well-directed header released Thornton for a run at goal. As the winger shaped to shoot, the ball bobbled off the heavy, uneven turf and caused the player to miscue his shot high and wide when a goal seemed likely. When Poskitt finally cleared the front-post man at the third time of asking from a corner, the Scunthorpe side dealt with the threat, their clearance reaching Luke Smith who sent a long cross sailing towards the far post, only to see the bar drift clear of both the post and the onrushing Lee Garside.

As Ponte started to dominate possession, Appleby Frodingham responded by pumping the ball forward to strikers Johnson and Finnegan. When the Colls defence showed further indecision as James Coulbeck lifted a ball into the box, it seemed as though Finnegan would score, before Smith lashed the ball away for a corner. The lack of surety even infected Joburns, who – aware of the uneven pitch – shanked a clearance away for a corner.

Good work from Garside set up Thornton on the left, who returned the ball to Garside in the area. Garside whipped the ball across the face of goal, but it evaded a final touch that would have brought an equaliser. Poskitt – who was starting to cause problems for the visitor’s defence – retrieved the ball and shot, but his effort was blocked and the threat subsided. As Pontefract enjoyed their first spell of sustained pressure, they forced another series of corners. Thornton set up Bentley with a cushioned volley, only for Bentley’s shot to be blocked. Pontefract did have the ball in the back of the net in the 36^th minute, when Nicky Handley met a Poskitt corner to head home. However, the referee had other ideas, penalising Garside for a pull on a defenders shirt that had escaped the notice of everybody else in the ground.

From the tenth corner of the half, Rian Sykes did well to retrieve the clearance, skipping around markers before directing a delightful cross to Garside at the far post. Garside nodded the ball back to Poskitt, whose shot was again blocked. Poskitt then set up Thornton with a ball floated across the face of goal, but the winger could not keep his volley down.

Joburns was called upon to make a save from Coulbeck following some good approach work by James Hare, then Appleby threatened to extend their lead again when a Finnegan effort flew wide of the upright. When Coulbeck slid a ball dangerously across the face of the Pontefract goal, Handley turned the ball around the post for a corner, which signalled the end of the opening half.

With Handley replaced by Paul Staniforth after the interval – the skipper nursing a groin strain picked up when sliding on the heavy surface – the armband was passed to Luke Smith, far from enjoying his 30^th birthday. The half started as the first had ended, with Appleby Frodingham on the attack: Johnson crossing for Robinson to shoot wide. Duncan Bray – growing in influence on his home debut as the match wore on – shot wide from a good ball from Thornton. When the winger swung in a free kick from the right, Garside held the ball up with his back to goal, before turning and shooting. Although his shot was saved, Thornton was steaming in with pace and purpose, and stroked the ball home for the equaliser.

As Pontefract got the smell of victory in their nostrils, their energy levels increased, driven on by the promptings of birthday boy Smith, imploring his team-mates to drive onwards in search of the three points that would have taken the side clear at the top of the table. As the home side started to dominate – the introduction of Craig Stephens for Twibey signalling their intent – the inevitable gaps started to appear as the Scunthorpe side countered. Smith showed a captain’s example when blocking a shot from Coulbeck, recovering admirably after the winger had turned him in the box. Smith’s free-kick was then headed goalwards by Stephens, who found the keeper perfectly positioned to deal with the attempt on goal. Pontefract had a penalty claim denied when a goalbound effort struck an arm, but had to settle for a corner.

Appleby responded, Hare crossing for Johnson to head over the bar. At the other end, Bentley twisted and turned the defence, put chose to shoot early and directed a weak shot wide when he could have taken the ball closer towards goal and given himself a better chance to score. As the game opened up completely in the final minutes, both sides created openings. Finnegan had an excellent shot saved by Joburns, who was quick off his feet to smother the follow-up effort from Johnson. Joburns saved a header from Coulbeck, then had Staniforth to thank for a clearance when the same player slid a ball across the face of goal. As the visitors finished strongly, McKay’s shot was deflected out for a corner. Although Pontefract had enjoyed the bulk of possession, their visitors had carved out the better openings, and the best was yet to come – Finnegan seeming certain to score when freed one-on-one with Joburns in the final minute of the match. Joburns had other ideas, diving bravely to block the first effort, before palming away the rebound a split second before the striker rolled the ball home for a winner.

Although the state of the pitch does not help the home team – who thrive when playing controlled, possession football – the poor playing surface does not excuse Ponte’s failure to beat sides at home that they must be beating if they are to maintain their championship challenge. In particular, the slow starts at home by his side are frustrating Houghton, who turns his mind to finding a way of ensuring that his side dominates teams from the first whistle as they tend to do when fighting to retrieve a game in which they are behind. When summarising the character of Pontefract’s season to date, “Never knowing when you are beaten” is an accurate start point. However, any more performances like these, and this will need changing to “Only starting to play when you are behind,” which is hardly the epithet of champions.

Pontefract Collieries:

Andrew Joburns, Dean Twibey (repl. Craig Stephens, 64 mins), Luke Smith, Nicky Handley (capt) (repl. Paul Staniforth, 45 mins), Johnny Forsyth, Duncan Bray (repl. Paul Haigh, 80 mins), Ryan Poskitt, Rian Sykes, Lee Garside, Jason Bentley, Joe Thornton

Subs not used: Matt Wilkinson

Goal: Joe Thornton (57)

 Bookings: Joe Thornton (49), Craig Stephens (75)