Pontefract Collieries 5:0 Grimsby Borough
Baris Northern Counties East League, First Division
Saturday 27^th August 2011

Pontefract Collieries maintained their 100% start to the Baris NCEL season with a thundering 5-goal rout of Grimsby Borough.

The Colls now boast the division’s only remaining 100% record, although they trail leaders Worskop Parramore who have played two games more than the Pontefract side.

Coming in to the side on the back of a convincing win against Worsbrough, Grimsby started well. In the early exchanges it looked like this had the potential to be two footballing teams battling it out together in an even contest. However, after the first few minutes it started to become evident that Pontefract were going to have too much to offer for their opponents.  In fact, Pontefract had opportunities to score before they did, but for the Grimsby players throwing their bodies on the line to stop the shot.

However, Pontefract were soon to break the deadlock, courtesy of a penalty. It was worked well by Ponte around the area until the ball was played in to the busy Scott McGrory in the penalty area; it was McGrory’s intention to keep hold of the ball with his back to goal as he looked for a player to lay the ball off to. However the Grimsby defender had other ideas and made a reckless challenge from behind, taking the Colls midfielder out. It was rash from the defender as, with his back to goal, McGrory had little chance to do anything but lay off the ball for a team-mate. The referee was left with no option and immediately blow the whistle and went running towards the penalty sport, arm stretched out.

Liam Ormsby stepped up and calmly struck the ball into the net.

From that moment on it was obvious that the Grimsby players realised that they were up against it and decided that were not going to go down without a fight. First the Grimsby striker had several attempts at pushing and pulling the Ponte captain Jonny Forsyth whilst challenging for headers. In his current form the excellent Forsyth was not to be budged, and kept the usual calm head and played his game as a true leader and it would be him who would have the last laugh.

Goal number two was soon to follow for Ponte, and what a goal it was! It was scored by Will Ramsey who, after an exchange of passes on the left, got the opportunity to run at the right full back. It was finished with some style as Ramsey sweetly clipped the ball up and over the on rushing full back cutting in from the left before sweetly dispatching the ball past the keeper on his near post. The crowd and Ponte players and staff all looked with some satisfaction as it was a goal to be proud of.

Several other chances went begging by Ponte, when some superb passages of play should have resulted in goals. James Hicks was as impressive as ever, and should have opened his afternoon’s account when a cross from left back Stephen Edwards to the back post hung up well. Hicks didn’t make a clean contact on the volley and the shot was easily saved by the Grimsby keeper. Ramsay and Grieg McGrory were not impressed – both being in better positions to score from an anticipated knock-down.

Hicks spurned a harder chance not long after, when a header on the edge of the 6yard box in the centre of the goal was just too far behind him to allow for the generation of any real power. Ramsey did what he does best, cutting in from the left before hitting a first time shot across goal that made the bar wobble.

When then third goal came around the half hour mark, it owed everything to the goalscoring instincts of Greig McGrory. A corner from the left had side was played to the near post and fell to McGrory with his back to goal. The marksman was not to be denied, executing a smart turn before despatching a neat shot in between the ‘keeper and his near post.

With Ponte on the charge and disappearing over the hills, the returning Ryan Poskitt caused all sorts of problems for the visitors. The crowd favourite picked up the ball near the half way line on the right, beat a couple of half tackles towards the box, and then a couple more as he approached within shooting distance. Poskitt cut in on his left hand side at the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot that the keeper could only parry to the floor. It was a moment of “Pozzy magic” that thrilled the fans and manager alike, and marked the winger’s return to form following an injury that has taken a long time, plenty of hard work, and a few “sharpener” games in the reserves to overcome.

After the interval, Pontefract continued where they had left off. Ormsby – ever the perfectionist – had demanded that his players maintained their workrate and commitment and thereby deny their visitors any route back into contention in the game.

The fourth goal was another great goal as the impressive Scott McGrory (who had not stopped running all afternoon and put in an excellent display with and without the ball) got his reward. The ball came to him in the centre of the goal 25 yards out. With one touch McGrory set himself a shooting chance, and he was not wasting time as he unleashed a low powerful shot that had just the right amount of in swing to nestle perfectly in the bottom corner of the net.

The fifth – and final – nail in the coffin for Grimsby came from an unlikely source in the captain Forsyth, who had stayed up as the ball was played out from a Ponte corner. The ball fell to the consistently-excellent Liam Ormsby, who played it back out wide to Poskitt who, in turn, delivered the ball to the back post into the path of his skipper’s run. Beating the offside trap, Forsyth took the ball on and, with the ball sitting up nicely, finished like an accomplished striker, slotting the ball into the right hand corner of the net.

Changes were made by the Colls as the outstanding Ramsey – who had tweaked a muscle – was replaced by Rob Oldham, returning from his own injury after making an exciting start in a Colls shirt. Ormsby and his assistant Nick Handley (Duncan Bray being on scouting duties elsewhere for the afternoon) replaced Hicks with new signing Steve Lyons. Finally, Paul Haigh entered the fray, replacing Ormsby before putting in a superb half-hour that delighted his manager and marked his return to fitness and contention for a starting berth.

Colls eased of the gas a little, although most could forgive them for doing so with a five-goal cushion. However, they were able to hold Grimsby at bay, pushing the visitors back into their own half. As soon as they thought about doing anything other than that the Colls smothered them and took the ball back. Haigh was – as ever – the master of selflessness as he broke up play and spread the ball out wide on numerous occasions to start the attack again. It was on one of these occasions that Ponte should have added a 6^th goal, when the impressive Poskitt worked his way through the last two defenders and came one on one with the keeper. The fans were already placing the bets on the outcome being a goal as Poskitt approached. He faked the shot to commit the keeper but, credit to the Grimsby player, he stood up and allowed the defenders to cover and make the tackle. Unfortunately, Poskitt suffered a knock during the melee, and Pontefract were forced to finish the game with ten men.

Another opportunity fell to Scott McGrory, who was still having his best game in a Ponte shirt and deserved a second goal, as the ball fell to him in front of the keeper. He cleverly and skilfully lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net. However, it wasn’t to be, as the flag had been raised.

This was a good team performance and the award for Man of the Match could have been awarded to any of the players except ‘keeper Lee Kelsey, who had little to do throughout the entire match. Dean Twibey was excellent (as always) on the right, and never put a foot wrong, making all the right decisions, as did Tom Robinson in between Twibey and skipper Forsyth, and Stephen Edwards on the left. Pontefract, having conceded a goal 28 seconds into their league campaign, have not conceded another since. Testament should be paid to Kelsey and his back four, but also to the high work ethic that Ormsby has drilled into his team.

The midfield were dominant throughout, and the contributions of Scott McGrory, Liam Ormsby and Paul Haigh are vital to the team’s performance as an attacking and defending force. With wide men Poskitt and Ramsay offering real threats and the strikers playing well, Pontefract looked dangerous in possession from start to finish.

However, assistant manager Nick Handley singled out the unused substitutes Mick Walpole and Lee Stretton for special praise, as both may have felt aggrieved not to start the game after putting in excellent performances in midweek as the reserves beat Premier League Parkgate. Despite their obvious frustrations, both have impressed Handley and the gaffer with their attitudes and professionalism, as they await their opportunities. They will have taken heed from the performance of Poskitt who, having worked hard to overcome injury and demanded games in the reserves to find his sharpness and form, was rewarded with a Man of the Match performance on his eventual return to the starting eleven, edging out the magnificent Scott McGrory and the ever-reliable Liam Ormsby in the voting. Such are the standards now at the club that excellent players are having to work hard and fight for their places in the team. What it means to the management team is that, when players do get their opportunities, they are hungry, fit and ready, and the team is not weakened by changes in personnel.

Ormsby senior – who had led the side to a 1:1 draw away at Boro’ in his first game in charge of the Colls – was delighted at his side’s performance, yet frustrated that they did not convert their superiority into an even more emphatic scoreline, and urged his players to add a ruthless edge to their game while continuing the hard work that has turned round the team’s fortunes. For the watching Colls’ fans, they were far less critical than their perfectionist manager, being able to take pure delight in the performance of the team. Several long-term supporters – including the club’s historian, Rod Naylor – were hard pressed to remember a more complete performance from the team.

In the context of the development of Ormsby’s team, the comparison to the same fixture twelve months earlier could not have been more stark: that evening, the team were beaten 3:1 playing what was described as “ugly, brainless football”. Several fans walked out of the stadium, vowing never to return. Today, they played an incisive, controlled game that thrilled their supporters and destroyed their opponents.

Their manager knows they can improve!

For full Facebook album of photographs from the game, click here

Pontefract Collieries: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey, Stephen Edwards, Johnny Forsyth (captain), Tom Robinson, Scott McGrory, Ryan Poskitt, Liam Ormsby (repl. Paul Haigh, 64), James Hicks (repl. Steve Lyons, 62), Greig McGrory, Will Ramsay (repl. Rob Oldham, 55)

Subs not used: Lee Stretton, Mick Walpole

Goals: Liam Ormsby (12), Will Ramsey (16) Greig McGrory (37) Scott McGrory (53) Johnny Forsyth (60)