Handsworth 1:2 Pontefract Collieries
Baris Northern Counties East League First Division
Saturday 8^th October 2011

Pontefract came from behind to beat Handsworth on Saturday, with late goals from James Hicks and Steve Lyons ensuring that the team left Sheffield with all three points.

After a hard-fought first-half during which neither team could take advantage of some good opportunities to open the scoring, Handsworth broke the deadlock within four minutes of the re-start. To their credit, Pontefract were not bowed by falling behind, instead digging deep to overcome the deficit and injuries to key players with a stirring second-half performance.

After suffering two consecutive league defeats, The Colls’ campaign would have been in danger of becoming derailed by a third, particularly as the loss of three points to Handsworth would have seen  the Sheffield side peeling a full nine points clear of the Pontefract team – a significant deficit, even at this early stage of the season and even allowing for a game in hand.

The game started as it would continue throughout: end-to-end, with both teams showing their attacking intent. Within the opening minute both had worked the ball into their opponents penalty area: first Ponte, with Will Ramsay swinging in a cross from the left flank; then the hosts, countering swiftly to create an opening for a shot by David Cockerill that was deflected behind for the first of many corners for the Sheffield side in the opening half.

With both teams going for broke, the respective goalkeepers found themselves busy. Lee Kelsey parried away a firm shot from Tyrone Crapper, before Cockerill saved the impressive ‘keeper the trouble by shooting over the bar when well-placed to score.

As they fought fire with fire, none within The Colls’ side impressed more than James Hicks, and he would consider himself unlucky to be flagged for offside when racing clear of the host’s defence after a fine through-ball by Scott McGrory. With the hosts feeding everything through the impressive Cockerill – who acted as fulcrum for all their attacking play – they threatened repeatedly from crosses and corners, with the big striker seemingly able to land his delivery exactly where he wanted to, time and time again. Thankfully for the visitors Tom Robinson was in imperious form, winning header after header against a powerful forward line, while debutant Gary Lumley – signed from Premier Division Selby Town during the week to fill the significant footsteps of the London-bound Johnny Forsyth – was outstanding alongside him. Despite the attacking intent of the hosts and the near-perfect delivery of crosses into the box by Cockerill, the Colls’ defence stood firm.

Going forward, the Pontefract team were starting to find profit from using the full width of the field. With McGrory and Liam Ormsby spreading the ball wide to exploit the full width, the team created openings from the flanks. On the right, Ryan Poskitt was back to his old self, rarely passing up an opportunity to take on his full-back, who was in for a torrid afternoon. When Dean Twibey overlapped, Poskitt fed the Colls’ captain, who delivered a fine cross into the area, only to see it elude the lone striker Hicks. On the left, Rob Oldham was joined in attack by Stephen Edwards, who cut inside before delivering the ball into the area. However, with Hicks leading the line on his own – Ormsby and McGrory being joined in midfield by the roaming Ramsay – the hosts’ defenders had numerical advantage and were able to clear.

Ramsay – whose performance and commitment never seem to waver below the level of excellent – used his role to full effect, popping up all over the park to pick up the ball and run, before spreading play with diagonal, raking passes. From one such pass Hicks, ignoring the bumping and barging of his markers, chested the ball down before turning it around the corner and into the path of the flying Poskitt, whose delivery was deflected behind for the Colls’ first corner.

Rob Oldham swung the corner in from the right and, when it’s flight cleared allcomers inside the Handsworth area, Hicks picked it up at the far post, launching a powerful strike low across the goal. The fact that it evaded any touch – from players of either side – that would have surely deflected it into the net seemed to defy the laws of physics.

Handsworth countered down the left, but when Ben Snee escaped from Dean Twibey, Ryan Poskitt was on hand to tidy up. As the half neared it’s end, Handsworth were reduced to trying long-range efforts, with Kelsey being called upon to save two, while allowed the luxury of watching a further three sail high, wide or both.

With Pontefract growing stronger as the half drew on, a free-kick was awarded on the right for a foul on Twibey, with the skipper and his playmate Poskitt threatening to open up the hosts. Poskitt delivered the dead ball onto the head of Hicks, who headed wide at the far post.

The flanks, while being the area of focus for Pontefract’s attacks, were not the only route. Liam Ormsby slid a fine pass into the feet of Scott McGrory, finding some rare space in the middle of the park. McGrory shielded, as he does so well, before turning and driving towards goal, and unleashing a low drive that flew a metre or so wide of the upright.

With the honours even after an entertaining but goal-less first half, both managers implored their teams to carry on with their attacking approach. As a result, the teams served up a thrilling and eventful second half, which started very much as the first had done: end-to-end from the very first whistle.

Like a Basketball team benefiting from the tip-off, Pontefract went first. Will Ramsay fed Rob Oldham on the left, but Oldham’s cross was firmly headed clear by James Colliver. Then it was Handsworth’s turn, counter-attacking with gusto in a move that culminating with Sam Smith heading onto the roof of the net from Snee’s cross. Gary Lumley showed that he has real balls to go with his undoubted skill when, after taking one in the midriff from a powerful blast by Allott, gritted his teeth and played on through the pain for a full minute until the ball went out of play.

Sadly for Lumley and his team-mates, his heroism was in vain. No sooner had the pain subsided than the Colls were hurt by the hosts’ opener. Ben Snee’s cross from the left was headed back across the face of goal, where it was met by Sam Smith, who crashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

Finding themselves a goal behind within five minutes of the re-start, Pontefract re-doubled their efforts. Ryan Poskitt was a man on a mission, dipping his shoulder, jinking inside and beating three men, before being denied a shot at goal by a last-ditch challenge in the box. With Ponte pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Handsworth exploited the inevitable gaps at the back. When substitute Callum Ward raced clear, a second goal seemed inevitable, but Lee Kelsey dived bravely at his feet to block and then smother the goal-bound effort. Following another thrust forward by the visitors, a loose pass from Oldham released Grant Allott, who drove down the middle of the park before unleashing a powerful shot low and wide of the post.

There was a worrying moment for the Colls after the hour mark, when Twibey left the field with a hamstring problem. With the skipper in excellent form, his team will hope for a speedy and full recovery. Twibey’s replacement Connor Rollinson found himself called upon immediately, heading clear from below his own cross-bar following a corner.

It was Ponte’s turn to attack, with Edwards and Ramsay – now operating on the left-flank as Steve Lyons had replaced Oldham and joined Hicks up front – combined down the left. After a good overlap, Edwards fed Ramsay inside, the winger cutting further inside before shooting hard and low. Handsworth ‘keeper Rob Poulter parried the ball round the post for a corner.

With the game entering it’s final stages, Pontefract pushed and pressed in search of an equaliser. When it came, it owed a large amount to the bravery of Tom Robinson. The centre-half blocked a high clearance from Allott from close range with his face and, following Lumley’s earlier example, ignored his pain to stay on his feet and continue play. The ball ricocheted into the path of Hicks, who took a touch to set himself before striking a powerful drive goalwards. All Poulter could do was slow the ball’s path into the back of the net, and the sides were level.

Neither side were finished, neither happy to settle for a draw. Straight from the re-start, Handsworth pushed forward, with Colliver’s half-volley sailing inches wide of both post and the sprawling Kelsey. When Smith delivered a cross towards the unmarked Cockerill, Robinson flicked out his heel to knock the ball over the bar and deny the hosts. It was a case of any-which-way-you-can for Robinson, who improvised well to deny a goal.

With the game becoming more open as the hosts tired and their tight pressing game started to fade, Pontefract’s danger men were finding more space. Poskitt and Ramsay, prompted and fed by Ormsby and Haigh – on for the injured McGrory – ran at their markers in search of an opening. However, when the winner came it was not from the wings, but from the most direct route possible. Lee Kelsey launched a long clearance towards the head of Hicks. The big striker rose to glance the ball into the path of his partner Lyons, who strode goalwards before sending a classy finish beyond the outstretched hand of Poulter. It was Lyons’ first goal for the team, and he will rarely score a more important one.

With eight minutes remaining, Handsworth pushed in search of parity. They must have thought they had achieved it when Smith rose to head a cross low towards the bottom corner of the net. It was not to be, as Kelsey showed remarkable agility to scramble across his goal before diving low to flick the ball off the line and behind for a corner.

This win will have delighted Brendon Ormsby and Duncan Bray on the bench, not only for the spirit shown by their team, but by the improvement in sharpness and quality throughout the ranks. With Poskitt back to his scintillating best, Kelsey terrific as the last line of defence, Lumley solid and commanding on debut against a tough opponent despite yielding height and reach advantage, Robinson excellent alongside him and in a rich vein of form, Edwards growing in stature with every game, the midfielders using the width of the pitch effectively and overcoming their recent tendency to squander possession with aimless long balls, and Hicks causing a real handful for the Handsworth back line, there were positive performances throughout. Even the injuries to Twibey and McGrory will not have dampened spirits too much.

Brendon Ormsby will hope that his team can take both confidence and momentum from beating one of the strongest teams in the division into their next games, at home against Worsborough Bridge next Saturday and then Appleby Frodingham the following Tuesday. If the team can replicate the tempo, spirit and control that they exhibited in this game – one of the toughest tests of the season – they will be well set to continue their winning ways.

To view the full Facebook photo album from the game, click here

Pontefract: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey (repl. Connor Rollinson, 69), Stephen Edwards, Tom Robinson, Gary Lumley, Scott McGrory (repl. Paul Haigh, 64), Ryan Poskitt, Liam Ormsby, James Hicks, Will Ramsay, Rob Oldham (repl. Steve Lyons, 73)

Subs not used: Grieg McGrory, Lee Stretton

Goals: James Hicks (72), Steve Lyons (82)

Cautions: Lee Kelsey