Pontefract Collieries 1-0 Nostell Miners Welfare
Baris Northern Counties East League President’s Cup – First Round
Tuesday 9^th August 2011

Pontefract Collieries’ impressive start to the season continued as they knocked out Premier Division side Nostell Miners Welfare in the President’s Cup at the White Rose Stadium. There wasn’t much between the sides, but Pontefract deservedly prevailed having created the majority of the clear-cut chances over the ninety minutes.

Nostell actually started the stronger of the two teams, Matt Ward tearing away beyond Rob Oldham

on the far side, holding off the defender’s attempted pull, before bringing the ball back to Fidel Mhlolo who disappointingly fired wide. Shortly after, Scott Hartley’s header was straight at Lee Kelsey in the Ponte goal.

Ponte’s first attack on the Nostell goal saw a floated cross from Rob Oldham, who had another great game on the left side of the field, reach James Hicks who outjumped the defence but just headed over the bar. Moments later, a similar floated cross, this time from Greig McGrory, was just inches away from the heads of namesake Scott, and Hicks.

The sides then traded free-kicks within a matter of minutes, Greig McGrory curling an effort just wide before Liam Coughlan at the other end hit a vicious dipping effort that just cleared the bar.

Just after the half-hour mark, and the Colls took the lead they weren’t going to relinquish. It all occurred due to a horrid mix-up in the Nostell defence. Former Pontefract stalwart Wayne Ball and team-mate Hartley got in each other’s way with neither clearing the ball away. Will Ramsey stole in to pinch the ball, and put in an inch-perfect cross for GREIG McGRORY (33m) who finished coolly in the box.

Nostell were now having to chase the game, Matthew Jackson doing well to leave defenders in his wake and then hitting a lovely effort from just inside the box that was well palmed away by Kelsey to safety. From the ensuing corner kick, a scramble in the defence saw the ball hit the Ponte post but then cleared to safety.

It was then Ponte’s turn to hit the bar, Liam Ormsby hitting a lovely dipping free-kick that deserved better, but the ball rebounded out to Hicks who couldn’t keep his header down. As half-time approached, Ward had a header just wide of the Ponte goal.

The second half started much the same as the first, with Nostell having the early possession. Kelsey nearly spilled a fierce volley from Mhlolo, thankfully to the home fans’ relief, he held on at the second attempt.

However, despite most of the possession, Nostell didn’t really offer too many clear cut chances, and as the half wore on, Ponte came stronger again. A lovely move started from the edge of the area saw Greig McGrory pass inside to his brother Scott, who in turn flicked the ball on to Hicks, but he shot wide and was in an offside position. That was the last major part he was going to play, as the collision with Nostell’s ‘keeper Gavin Ainsley left him still feeling the effects later.

There was a possibly penalty shout midway through the second half, as it looked to all ends that Greig McGrory was barged over in the box with all the home players appealing for the decision, but the referee wasn’t going to change his mind.

Ponte still had to be aware at the back, as Nostell were dangerous on the counter and a good ball over the top found substitute, and ex-Pontefract Under-19s player, Jimmy Eyles, whose attempted lob over Kelsey was wide of the target.

The Colls were still trying to make the game safe, and from a corner the ball was flicked on to Greig McGrory whose downward header was stopped at point blank range by Ainsley. Moments later, an Ormsby free-kick was punched out by the ‘keeper, leaving him in no mans land, but Ramsey’s header back in was stopped on the line by another ex-Ponte player, Matt Wilkinson, who saved his side.

Still Ponte attempted to add a second, this time Ormsby’s effort at the far post was again blocked on the line. As the game entered stoppage time, Dean Twibey came surging through the defence and midfield, and looked odds-on for a quite remarkable goal – however the visiting ‘keeper managed to just get to the ball ahead of the full back.

An impressive performance by Ponte against a top-9 Premier Division side, and with players like Paul Haigh, Ryan Poskitt and Andrew Broadbent still to return to the side, it looks like competition for places will be high. There were good performances from Hicks, who won pretty much everything in the air, Greig McGrory who again showed composure and a cool finish in front of goal and Rob Oldham, whose crosses and general attacking play from left-back were very impressive.

Ponte Colls: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey, Rob Oldham, Johnny Forsyth, Tom Robinson, Scott McGrory (repl. Mick Walpole 86m), Will Ramsay, Liam Ormsby, James Hicks (repl. Warren Redford 61m), Greig McGrory, James McDaid.

Subs Not Used: Lee Stretton, Connor Rollinson, Stephen Edwards

Goals: Greig McGrory (33)