BRIDLINGTON TOWN U19s 0-4 PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES U19s

Wednesday 2^nd November 2011
Northern U19 Youth Alliance – Eastern Division

The Pontefract Collieries Academy team earned their third straight win in the league at Bridlington on Wednesday night to keep in touch with league leaders Harrogate Railway.

It was an impressive first half performance for the young Colls, who had too much pace and quality finishing for Town to handle, although the East-Coasters were much improved after the break.

With just the one substitute named, it looked like this could be a real test for Pontefract, especially given that it is also the longest trip of the season. Aaron Carrigan was rewarded for some good displays in training with a place in the starting XI, with the rest of the team much the same as the win over Scarborough.

The game kicked off at breakneck speed, and the hosts actually had the ball in the net within seconds, Jon Richardson, the captain, finishing well only to be called back by the linesman’s flag.

60 seconds later, the same thing happened at the other end! Leon Guest forcing a good save from Liam Giles, with Warren Redford burying the rebound – however the goal was chalked off once again for offside.

The ‘goal’ seemed to instil some determined-ness into the Ponte team to forge ahead, and they did so with a wonderfully worked goal. Redford turned the fullback the wrong side before delivery a great ball into the area with LEON GUEST (5m) doing well to slide the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides then traded chances, Redford hitting a free-kick straight at Giles, before Darren Rookes nearly stole in at the near post, but was unable to control the ball. Back at the other end, Guest had a free-kick cleared which fell to the captain, Callum Green, whose curled effort went just the wrong side of the post.

There then ensued a lengthy delay as a Bridlington player had to be taken off on a stretcher due to a recurrence of a knee-injury. Fortunately, the delay didn’t stop Ponte’s attacking traits. Some lovely passing build-up play between Lewis Osborne and Redford saw the ball played into the area to Carrigan, whose shot was saved, but fell to the feet of CALLUM GREEN (28m) who doubled the lead from virtually on the goal-line.

Kieron Wright nearly put in an inch perfect ball for Osborne to attack, but the defence came to the rescue, before the home side fashioned a decent chance of their own. A free-kick was played in and not properly cleared – Karl Fitzgerald was left unmarked in the box, thankfully his overhead kick didn’t trouble Tom King in the Ponte goal.

Some good possession play from Ponte in the middle of the park saw Bridlington chasing the ball for a good few minutes, when they did get a foot to the ball, it fell to LEON GUEST (40m) who decided to let fly from 25 yards. The shot flew past Giles down low to give Ponte an unassailable lead thanks to a wonderful individual effort.

Before the break, there was still a chance for Carrigan, who headed an effort just wide from yet another great Wright delivery, before the latter player was involved at the other end of the pitch, putting in a fine tackle on Richardson to prevent the striker from shooting.

The second half saw Bridlington come out fired up, and creating chances almost immediately. Richardson, who seemed to be at the heart of everything dangerous the home side did, forced a point blank save from King. The ‘keeper was called upon again moments later, getting a hand to a Fitzgerald cross and then saving a decent low shot from Richardson.

Indeed, Pontefract were guilty of gifting possession straight back to the hosts during this period, yet the game was far from won yet. Gradually, the visitors made more of an impression on the half. Some good movement from Redford saw the young striker lay the ball off for Green on the edge of the area whose low effort was saved by Giles. Unfortunately Carrigan’s follow-up shot was over the bar.

Some great battling play in the middle of the park by Guest, who had a fine game throughout, saw the midfielder tee up Osborne, who in turn hit a lovely lobbed effort over Giles – only to see the ball come back off the crossbar!

Ponte were right back in the game now, and were creating plenty of dangerous chances. From a Bridlington free-kick, Ponte broke forward at pace, Green feeding Redford who hit a shot from the edge of the area that was blocked by a last ditch challenge for a corner. From the set-piece, Redford was again involved, seeing his shot blocked once again and cleared.

There was a couple of slight scares at the back when Rookes hit a shot that was just over the bar as the visiting defence moved out too quickly, and shortly afterwards Anthony Parr had a header from corner-kick which just cleared the bar.

As the game was coming to a close, there was still time for Ponte to put the icing on the cake. Redford picked up a loose pass from the home defence, advanced forward into the box and blasted a shot at goal, Giles did well to get a hand to it, only to see the ball fall for AARON CARRIGAN (90m), who deservedly got his name on the scoresheet from close range.

The final score sees Pontefract move level on points with the league leaders Harrogate Railway, however they have it all to do again next Wednesday (9^th November) when they play Goole, who are breathing down their necks.

There were great performances from the Ponte team across the pitch. Leon Guest had a great game in the centre of the park, breaking up the home side’s passing as well as grabbing a couple of goals himself. Warren Redford had a busy day up front, and perhaps would be aggrieved to have not scored having created several chances himself. Aaron Carrigan was another player that impressed throughout, infact the home side had to change their formation due to the diminutive winger’s danger going forward! The defence in general were in control, Ryan Waugh seems to have settled into the side like he has always been there, and the goalkeeper was in fine form too – despite not having the busiest of games, he made some decent stops when called upon.

Colls: King, Wright, Chapman, Waugh, Abbott, Guest, Green, McDermott (Barker, HT), Osborne, Redford, Carrigan