Rossington 0:1 Pontefract Collieries
Baris Northern Counties East League, First Division
Tuesday 15^th November, 2011

A first half strike from Steve Lyon was enough to see off a quality Rossington side and move Pontefract level on points with leaders Worksop Parramore, who they host at The White Rose Stadium on Saturday.

The game proved to be a fiercely competitive tie, with both teams taking the game to their opponents whenever possible. The blood-and-thunder nature of the game was set in the first minute, with both sides attacking at speed. Firstly, Rossington broke quickly, but were denied by a fine challenge from Connor Rollinson, who tracked his man over 30 yards before putting in a fierce tackle. Then Pontefract countered, with left-winger James McDaid running at his full back, before cutting inside and rifling a shot into the midriff of the home ‘keeper from 25 yards, when a yard either side would have surely seen the stopper beaten by the pace of the shot.

Pontefract pressed, but Rossington broke again, pouring forward in numbers and setting up a three-on-one situation which culminated in the ball being cut back into the path of Jordan Hatton, whose shot was parried by Lee Kelsey. Fortunately, the hard-working Rollinson was back to react first and clear the rebound before the Rossington strikers could pounce.

Rossington came close to scoring from the resultant corner, when Hatton found himself free of markers at the near post, but saw his header thump against the cross bar with Kelsey beaten.

A deep free kick from Liam Ormsby skimmed off the top of a Rossington defender’s head, reaching Steve Lyon at the far corner of the penalty area. Lyon took the ball first time on the full, his left footed effort screaming towards the roof of the net, only to be denied by an athletic tip over by Lee Abbleby, in the Rossington net.

And that was just the opening ten minutes! After the “starters for ten”, the game settled down somewhat, with both sides tightening up their marking and taking more care to retain possession of the ball. The change in tempo suited Ponte, who started to move the ball around nicely. A flowing move ensued, started by Greig McGrory, who fed McDaid to his left. McDaid pulled inside and fed Lyon, who in turn found Connor Rollinson on space on the right. The youngster allowed the left back to close him down, drawing a challenge before skipping around his marker and sending a low pass across the face of goal, inviting a finishing touch, but being well handled by Appleby.

There was chaos in the Pontefract area when Kelsey chose to punch a looping cross clear, with the follow-up cross evading the ‘keeper and requiring a last-ditch intervention from Dean Twibey to clear the Ponte lines. Within seconds, Kelsey redeemed himself, assuming the unlikely role of goal provider. The ‘keeper’s long kick was allowed to bounce by the Rossington centre halves, and Lyon pounced on the opportunity, racing beyond the defenders to win the race to the bouncing ball and lift it over the advancing ‘keeper and into the back of the net.

Rossington upped their tempo to it’s previous, frantic level, and poured forward in search of an equaliser. However, the magnificent Rollinson was equally energetic, twice tracking back to deny the highly-rated Jason Stokes with tough challenges. When McGrory won a corner on the left, Ormsby’s delivery swung in to such an extent that it evaded the ‘keeper and bounced off the cross bar.

The interval allowed both sets of players – and the supporters – the chance of a well-earned breather, before the second half resumed where the first had left off. Lyon traded his role of scorer to that of provider in the opening minute of the half, lifting a measured ball into the path of Greig McGrory, whose attempt to nod the ball over the advancing ‘keeper was denied by the tip of a finger, at the cost of a corner.

Rossington rallied and attacked, taking advantage of the Colls’ defence being left short of numbers when Twibey lay injured on the deck, spreading the ball from left to right. Stokes broke down the right, pulling the ball back into the path of Will McGhie, who sent his first time shot towards the bottom corner of Kelsey’s net. Kelsey showed all his class and agility to dive to his right and deflect the ball onto the post.

Ormsby re-shuffled, pulling Rollinson back in to cover for his skipper, with Will Ramsay being introduced onto the right hand side of midfield. Rollinson did not let the change of role faze him, putting in a sterling shift at right back, while Ramsay started to find space and time on the wing, repeatedly pushing the hosts back with his trademark driving runs and quick feet.

With Ponte turning the screw, they relieved the pressure on the hosts with a series of errors. Firstly, Edwards miscued a header, playing in the dangerous Stokes, whose cross was cut out by Roberts before the recovering Edwards hooked it away. Then another missed clearance played in the same player, who rolled an angled ball into the box for striker Zeph Thomas to chase. Thomas was never going to win the race to the overhit pass, but Kelsey allowed the ball to roll past him towards the unguarded net. Fortunately, Roberts was alive to the danger, and raced back to clear off his line and spare his ‘keeper’s blushes.

Scott McGrory, who worked tirelessly throughout alongside Ormsby in the engine room, broke clear of two markers to release Ramsay, who ran at his full back before sending a dangerous cross over the face of goal. Then Ormsby won the ball back in the centre circle, drove forward towards the Rossington back line, and clipped a ball over the right back and into the path of Lyon. Lyon struck the ball first time, but his left footed blast found the reverse swing so effective for England’s fast bowlers, the bend taking the seemingly goal-bound ball crashing into the near post.

Pontefract were awarded a free kick on the half-way line when James McDaid’s toe was flattened by a stamping boot. Ormsby launched the ball into the area and, when the headed clearance landed at his feet, Lyon curled in a fine left-footed shot. This time the swing worked in his favour, but the ‘keeper read it’s flight and dived to his right to tip around the post for a corner.

The corner saw the ball ricochet around the box, eventually landing at the left boot of Scott McGrory, whose shot was blocked.

Rossington’s Thomas turned and shot straight at Kelsey, who later denied the same player by winning the race to a through ball and bravely diving at his feet to claim possession. Buoyed by the feeling that they were getting warmer in the hunt for an equaliser, Rossington produced their best move of the match, moving the ball across the full width of the pitch before it was rolled into the path of substitute Dean Sidebottom, arriving late and unmarked at the far post. Sidebottom blasted his effort wide of the post, and Ponte breathed again.

Scott McGrory tried again, this time blasting his left footed shot into the side netting from 18 yards. Then Lyon had another curling effort saved by Appleby, this time far more comfortably. As the game entered added time, substitute Warren Redford was denied a chance to put the result beyond doubt when Appleby smothered his close range effort, after the young striker had done well to chest the ball down from a Ramsay cross and set himself to shoot.

With the official’s signalling of five minutes of added time further shredding the Ponte nerve ends, the visitors relieved pressure by working the ball into their host’s corner and keeping it there. With the Colls satisfied with controlling possession deep into enemy territory as the clock ticked down, the team showed their growing professionalism and maturity, denying the Doncaster side any opportunity to create the chance of a late equaliser. It was not spectacular, by any means, but the Ponte performance was highly controlled and effective, and – thanks to an excellent finish by Lyon and a magnificent save by Kelsey – the points were theirs.

The Colls now turn their attention to Saturday’s top of the table clash, when they host leaders Worksop at The White Rose Stadium, with the teams separated by goal difference and the Pontefract side enjoying two games in hand over the Nottinghamshire team.

Roll on Saturday!

To see the full Facebook photo album from the match, click here

Pontefract: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey (captain) (repl. Will Ramsay, 58), Stephen Edwards, Tom Robinson, Gareth Roberts, Scott McGrory, Connor Rollinson, Liam Ormsby, Steve Lyon, Greig McGrory, James McDaid (repl.Warren Redford, 75)

Subs not used: Duncan Bray, Nick Handley, Paul Haigh

Goals: Steve Lyon (32)

Cautions: none