Pontefract Collieries 1:2 Louth Town
Baris Northern Counties East League First Division
Saturday 1^st October 2011

Pontefract put in a listless performance at The White Rose Stadium on Saturday, losing to a double-strike from Jamie Coulson as Louth Town deservedly took the points back with them on the long trip home to Lincolnshire.

Having seen his team win a scintillating FA Vase tie to beat a Premier Division team in midweek, Brendon Ormsby would have expected his team to carry the confidence, verve and control into a game against a team from the lower reaches of the First Division. He would have been deeply disappointed: his team showed little energy, inventiveness or composure on a disappointing birthday afternoon for The Colls’ gaffer.

With the game played in sweltering heat – the temperature reaching a record high for the month of October – and played on a concrete-hard pitch, the conditions were energy-sapping. From the first whistle, the visitors demonstrated the greater will and energy, with Steve Norton attempting an audacious overhead kick from the first attack of the match, when a long-throw arrived in the Ponte penalty area.

Pontefract, who were struggling to retain possession, released the early pressure when Tom Robinson fed Steve Lyons on the left with an inch-perfect 30 yard pass. Although Lyon’s first-time cross was parried by Louth ‘keeper Craig Wherry, he only deflected the ball onto the head of Greig McGrory, who was powerless to control the direction of the header and watched the ball trickle wide.

With long throw’s causing problems in The Colls’ area, Norton flicked another one into the six-yard area, where it was met by his strike partner, Jamie Coulson, who headed over when a goal seemed inevitable. With the pressure building on the Pontefract goal, winger Mark Fairburn got in on the act, blasting a shot goalwards, and forcing a good save from Lee Kelsey. The Colls’ ‘keeper pulled off another fine save a minute later, this time parrying Sam Smith’s powerful 25 yard drive away and out for a corner. With Kelsey becoming Pontefract’s outstanding and, worryingly, busiest performer of the afternoon, the classy ‘keeper completed his hat-trick of fine saves when flying full length to prevent Dan Pawson’s volley from nestling in the net.

Kelsey was not called upon when Norton played a one-two off Coulson before shooting over the bar under pressure from Jack Hill.

It was all Louth. Even when Pontefract won their first corner on the half-hour mark, they presented it back to their visitors, allowing Norton to pick up the ball inside his own box before running the full-length of the field. Thankfully for the hosts Connor Rollinson, showing remarkably determination, tracked the dangerous striker for a full 70 yards before blocking Norton’s shot at Kelsey’s goal. There was no doubting Rollinson’s work-rate in a first half when many of his team-mates seemed to be struggling to get out of first gear. As the first half drew on, Ponte started to see more of the ball, but appeared to have no idea what to do with it, repeatedly lofting high balls in the general direction of Steve Lyons and Greig McGrory, much to the delight of the Louth back line and ‘keeper, who consistently found themselves presented with possession. With the ball being so regularly presented back to them, Louth maintained their momentum, pulling out yet another save from Kelsey: this one the best of the lot, when the ‘keeper flashed out his left hand to deflect a vicious near post blast from Norton behind for a corner.

Kelsey – having appeared Schmeichelesque during a first half of constant pressure – then replicated one of the Great Dane’s less celebrated moments, skewing a clearance behind himself when the ball bobbled up off the rock hard pitch, although Coulson failed to take advantage of the gift, placing his shot wide of the upright with the goal beckoning.

Greig McGrory finally had the opportunity to run at the Louth defence in the final minute of the half, but was denied a goalscoring opportunity by Louth’s Andy Appleby. Incredibly, the first 45 minutes had passed without Pontefract fashioning a single effort on goal.

After the interval, Pontefract appeared set to rectify matters. Will Ramsay, picking the ball up in the middle of the park, beat three men before slipping the ball into the path of Scott McGrory on the edge of the box. McGrory’s shot was deflected behind for a corner, but the momentum seemed to be changing. Scott’s brother Greig forced Wherry into making his first save of the afternoon when a long clearance by Tom Robinson was lifted into his path by Lyons. The younger McGrory shielded the ball, before turning and blasting his effort into the arms of the Louth ‘keeper.

As they seemed to be gathering steam, Pontefract were derailed by Coulson, who picked the ball up outside the penalty area before dancing past three Pontefract players, steadying himself, and shooting through the legs of Kelsey and into the net.

To their credit, Ponte responded swiftly and decisively. Connor Rollinson released Lyons with a fine ball down the right flank. Lyons drove down the flank before playing a perfect cross into the path of Greig McGrory, who finished with aplomb to level the scores.

Having dragged themselves back into the match, Pontefract failed to kick on – or even replicate the good passing that had led to their goal – but settled down into more of the same: second to every ball, clueless in possession. The general torpor throughout the team was no more evident than when Wherry’s goal-kick was allowed to bounce into the Ponte area, eventually finding it’s way to the feet of Norton, whose effort was saved by Kelsey.

Louth were not to be denied for long. Coulson completed his brace, being fed inside the area with his back to goal, shielding, turning, and stroking the ball into the far corner of the net.

Pontefract pushed forward in search of a second equaliser of the afternoon. They came close when Liam Ormsby’s fine free-kick was flicked over the bar by Wherry. However, the visitors came even closer to adding to their lead when breaking the offside trap and finding themselves with three players racing clear of the Ponte back line and bearing down on Kelsey’s goal. However, when Elliott Broughton squared to Norton, Tom Robinson and Stephen Edwards had recovered well, and were on hand to crowd out the striker.

Coulson appeared to be on course for his hat-trick when racing clear of the Ponte defence, but skipper Dean Twibey tracked the striker, recovering enough ground to knock his shot behind for a corner. As the game entered injury time, Stephen Edwards – who had put in another solid performance for his team – launched a long throw into the Louth area. The headed clearance was weak, falling at the feet of Will Ramsay, who met it with a crashing volley that flew inches over the cross-bar, with Wherry beaten.

When Rocky Rawlings was freed by a rare mistake from Tom Robinson, the substitute was able to beat Kelsey but not to keep his shot inside the far post. It was of little consequence for the visitors, for whom the referee’s final whistle signalled a fine three points won. For the hosts, it put them out of their misery after a miserable performance. Happy birthday, Brendon Ormsby.

Pontefract: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey (captain), Stephen Edwards, Tom Robinson, Jack Hill (repl. Nick Handley, 79), Scott McGrory (repl. Warren Redford, 71), Connor Rollinson (repl. Ryan Poskitt, 71), Liam Ormsby, Steve Lyons, Greig McGrory, Will Ramsay

Subs not used: Rob Oldham, Leon Guest

Goal: Greig McGrory (57)

Cautions: none