AFC Emley 3:2 Pontefract Collieries
NCEL First Division
Saturday 5th February 2011

Pontefract Collieries’ long unbeaten league run came to an end high up in the Pennines on Saturday, with the team losing a game to Emley that they seemed to have retrieved from certain defeat. Having trailed by two goals at the interval, the Pontefract side fought their way back to parity with six minutes of the tie remaining but, just as their momentum seemed to be carrying them in search of a winner, they were flattened by a sucker punch as their hosts counter-attacked and grabbed a winner themselves.

The Colls – who went into the tie boasting a 14-match unbeaten league run dating back to August 2010 – only had themselves to blame for the end of their run, as they completely misfired in the opening 45 minutes of the match: a trait that has blighted their otherwise impressive season. When they did start to play after the interval, another mighty comeback seemed inevitable, until Emley’s Steve Kenworthy bagged his second of the game to claim all three points for the hosts.

Pontefract’s penchant for slow starts was punished by their opponents with barely five minutes on the clock. Before the Colls had enjoyed any meaningful sortie into opposition territory, Alex Barnes picked up the ball midway inside the Pontefract half and, unimpeded by any pressure from the away side, crashed a 30 yard left-foot shot over the head of Sam Dobbs and into the roof of the net. It was a body-blow for Ponte, who became fractious and anxious as they sought a foothold in the match and some semblance of the normal fluidity of their play. Constantly, they surrendered possession, pumping long balls towards the Emley back four, who were enjoying their height and physical advantages.

Pontefract did create an opening during one of their rare first-half attacks, Duncan Bray turning inside his marker before shooting at the Emley ‘keeper. Seconds later, Ryan Poskitt drove towards the heart of the Emley defence, drawing their full-back across in support of his centre-halves before laying the ball off for Bray, who shot wide at the near post with the goal beckoning. It was as good as it got for the away side in the first half, who waited a full half-hour before forcing their first corner.

The corner was a good one – for the hosts! When Craig Stephen’s cross was cleared, the Emley players swarmed forward, counter-attacking with a verve that was not matched by their visitors, who seemed reluctant to accept that their opportunity to play in their hosts’ half had gone. Emley took advantage of their numerical supremacy, maintaining possession as they advanced, before Barnes slipped the ball across the face of goal for Steve Kenworthy to convert and double his side’s lead.

As the interval neared, Pontefract had their ‘keeper to thank for keeping them in the game. Dobbs – who would doubtless be disappointed by his failure to deal with the Emley opener – blocking Anthony Haigh in a one-on-one as the Emley No10 advanced on goal and seemed sure to score. The hosts were also relieved to reach the interval with a full complement of players on the pitch when Ryan Poskitt clattered Nathan Jayo with a clumsy challenge as the full-back cleared his lines. Referee Jane Simms deemed the challenge worthy of a caution, much to the angst of the home fans.

With rich resources on the bench – the dangerous Jason Bentley did not feature throughout the match – Simon Houghton made a change at the break, introducing Josh Wright to the fray, and moving Luke Forgione back into the centre of defence. The move proved influential, as the Colls – prompted by Wright – finally eschewed their ineffective “hoof and hope” approach of the first half and managed to control possession of the ball.  

However, it was Emley who created the first clear opening of the half, when Kenworthy – a real threat throughout – turned sharply before blasting his left-foot shot over the bar. Despite this foray, the hosts were struggling to hold a resurgent Ponte at bay, as the pressure built. With over half an hour remaining, the breakthrough came from an unlikely source: skipper Nicky Handley smashing home a Poskitt corner with a far post volley from his left boot.

The visitors pushed and probed – enjoying a control of the ball that had seemed alien in the first half. Duncan Bray must have thought he had set up the equaliser when he twisted and turned his marker, before setting up Craig Stephens. Stephens did extremely well to control a ball which was drifting behind him, turning artfully and blasting a left-foot shot inches wide of the far post. With the entire Pontefract team holding their heads in their hands, the players’ body language suggested they sensed it would not be their day. To their credit, they continued to press forward in search of an equaliser that would preserve their chance of beating the club record 17 league games unbeaten. With Ryan Poskitt starting to frighten the home defence with his driving runs, and Dean Twibey doubling their problems with constant overlapping runs, most of the threats were delivered from the right flank. Poskitt’s determination created a one-on-one for Bray, who arrived a split second too late to convert the chance, allowing the Emley ‘keeper to smother. As the visitors pressed on, first Bray and then Lee Garside headed wide at the far post, and the frustration mounted in the away camp.

Sensing the growing sense of “it’s just not going to be our day”, Houghton played his cards. Firstly, Carl Fothergill was introduced for Bray, followed by Craig Rouse replacing Lee Garside – later awarded the Man of the Match trophy for a tireless, aggressive display of centre-forward play. The introduction of Fothergill seemed to have given the Colls the crucial injection of belief that his side required, at a point in the match when it seemed to be evaporating. Crucially, forward passes were sticking to the striker, whose control and movement were allowing team-mates to push forward and join attacks in greater numbers. During a 20 minute cameo, Fothergill showed the team what they had been missing, and capped his return with the equaliser. Latching onto a ball slid behind the Emley centre-halves, Fothergill won the race to the ball, crashing his shot into the back of the net.

Sensing that the momentum would take them on to win the game, Pontefract pushed forward in search of the three points. Their reckless abandon was to be their undoing: Emley retrieved the ball and counterattacked, sensing the Colls were short of numbers at the back. When substitute Curtis Roberts sent in a perfect cross over the heads of the retreating defenders, it was met at the far post by Kenworthy, who headed his second of the match. Coming a mere five minutes before full-time and a minute after the equaliser, the goal lifted Emley belief whilst flattening that of their opponents, derailed the Pontefract recovery, and proved to be the match-winner.   

When Craig Rouse was dismissed as the game entered injury time, for an alleged headbutt during a melee surrounding a late challenge that also earned Craig Stephens a caution, the visitors’ frustration was complete.

Pontefract Collieries:

Sam Dobbs, Dean Twibey, Luke Smith, Nicky Handley (capt), Johnny Forsyth (Josh Wright, 45), Luke Forgione, Ryan Poskitt,  Andrew Broadbent, Lee Garside (repl. Craig Rouse, 80), Duncan Bray (repl.Carl Fothergill, 70), Craig Stephens

Subs not used: Jason Bentley

Goals: Nicky Handley (55), Carl Fothergill (84)

Bookings: Luke Smith, Ryan Poskitt, Luke Forgione, Craig Stephens

Dismissal: Craig Rouse