Pontefract Collieries Reserves 4:2 (aet) Carleton South Pontefract
Castleford District FA Challenge Cup
Saturday 17^th Sept 2011

John Redford’s Reserve team secured an extra-time triumph to progress in the Challenge Cup, with a hard-earned win over a decent Carleton side at The White Rose Stadium.

With the First Team in Baris NCEL duty away at Bottesford, Redford’s team was built around a core of his U19 Academy side, with the addition of a couple of younger players from the Academy and Rob Scholes from the Pontefract Pirates, who became the first player from the club’s section for people with learning difficulties to represent the club at full competitive level.

In the early stages The Colls dominated possession, but were to find themselves up against a goalkeeper in outstanding form. Martin Parkin prevented his team from falling behind by making a quadruple save – recovering three times from his initial parry to keep out the hosts as they peppered his goal.

Despite their good start, a mistake by the normally-immaculate Karl Abbott presented the opening goal to the visitors, with Andy Bugg pouncing to open the scoring.

With Redford’s team boasting an average age of just below 17, chasing a deficit posted a question against the team’s maturity and character. It was a question that they would answer positively, led by the duo of skipper Callum Green and Connor Rollinson in the centre of midfield. Rollinson, in particular, showed terrific leadership, rallying and encouraging his team-mates through a positive attitude while driving them forward as they sought parity in the game.

The hosts drew level before the interval, when Kyle Allen’s long-range shot was deflected past Parkin and into the net.

With the teams level at the interval, the Colls knew that they were in a game. With Bugg ever dangerous for their opponents and Parkin in fine form, Carleton looked more than capable of scoring goals at one end while keeping their hosts out at the other. However, despite the best efforts of Richard Poole, Lee Howorth, his younger brother Luke, and the excellent Matt Rush, the Colls managed to dominate the midfield area after the interval. They were rewarded for their efforts when Callum Green – himself knocking on the door of Brendon Ormsby’s team – put the hosts into the lead.

However, the visitors were not finished, equalising from a corner as the game entered the final stages of the ninety minutes.

With both teams committed to playing good football, the game was played in a marvellous spirit, although the Colls became increasingly dominant as the match entered extra time, keeping possession through moving the ball quickly and keeping it on the floor to grind down their opponents. They took the lead for the second time when Warren Redford, who had led the line well throughout the afternoon, ran through the Carleton defence before chipping the ball beyond the advancing Parkin and into the net.

Brad Grasham – one of several of Jon-Paul Cartledge’s U17 team to represent the Colls during the game – put the result beyond doubt by adding a fourth in the final period of injury time, tapping home from close range following a terrific run and cross down the wing by Jordan Turner.

With many of the Colls putting in good performances, the young team could be proud of themselves. None more so than Man of the Match Connor Rollinson, who will have done his chances of an early return to first team duties no harm whatsoever with a barnstorming performance.

The Colls now progress to a Second Round Tie against Kellingley Welfare.

Pontefract Collieries: Daniel Ansbro, Samir Hamed (repl. Grant Smith, 98) Kyle Allen (repl. Brad Grasham, 60), Grant Chapman, Karl Abbott, Hassan Ahmed (repl. Rob Scholes, 85), Callum Green (captain), Connor Rollinson, Jordan Turner, Warren Redford, Lewis Osborne

Subs not used: James Graham, Jon-Paul Cartledge

Goals: Kyle Allen, Callum Green, Warren Redford, Brad Grasham

Carleton South Pontefract: Martin Parkin, Craig Townend, Mark Stringer, Paul Cranswick, Gary Asquith, Andy Bugg, Dave Stephenson, Matt Rush, Luke Howorth, Richard Poole, Lee Howorth

Subs: Nick Roebuck, Adam Hyde