Pontefract Collieries 1:2 Hemsworth Miners Welfare
Baris Northern Counties East League, First Division
Saturday 26^th November, 2011

Below-par Ponte blew the chance to top the league table at the half-way stage of the season, losing a scrappy encounter to neighbours Hemsworth at The White Rose Stadium.

With leaders Worksop not in action and second-placed Albion Sports game postponed, this was effectively Pontefract’s game in hand on the two teams with whom they are locked on 39 points at the top of the table. Knowing that they had the opportunity to open up a three point gap at the summit with a win, Pontefract did not lack the motivation to follow their classy midweek victory in Sheffield with another win. Instead, they turned in a display that was every bit as inept as last Saturday’s performance against Worksop, and were deservedly beaten by a tough Hemsworth team.

The result would be even more disappointing to Pontefract as they led at half-time through a Ryan Poskitt goal, before being pegged back and put away by their visitors.

With Poskitt restored to the starting line-up following his sojourn abroad, The Colls had width and pace in their line up, with Poskitt being complemented by Will Ramsay on the left flank. Poskitt enjoyed the first attempt on goal, sending a curling 35 yard free-kick over the cross-bar in the opening minutes.

As the players struggled to get to grips with a vicious, swirling wind, the game began scrappily. Hemsworth created the first real opening, when Robbie Crapper sent a left-footed shot goalwards, only to be denied by a fine reactions save from Lee Kelsey.

At the other end, Will Ramsay was first to react from a headed clearance, picking the ball up outside the box but sending his first-time shot over the bar.

Poskitt opens the scoring when his corner curls straight into the top corner

The wind played it’s part in the Pontefract goal. Having won a corner on the left, Ryan Poskitt delivered a lethal inswinger in, using the wind to enhance the natural bend on the ball from his right foot. The ball sailed over all-comers in the penalty area, evading the despairing fingertips of Hemsworth ‘keeper Dale Walstow and nestling in the top corner of the net.

Hemsworth came close to equalising within a minute, when Lee Dawson rose to meet a free-kick swung in from the right, only to see his header float wide of the far post.

Greig McGrory pounced on a headed clearance to volley at goal, but his effort flew straight into the arms of Walstow.

There was a foretaste of things in come on the half hour mark, when the Colls defenders conspired with Lee Kelsey to present an opportunity for an equaliser. When none of the Colls back line took the opportunity to clear a long ball that appeared to present no danger, the ball rolled across the goal into the path of Robbie Crapper. Incredibly, the Hemsworth player spurned the open goal, missing from eight yards out.

When Liam Ormsby found his driving run ended prematurely by a lunging foul 25 yards from goal, Poskitt mirrored his effort in the opening minute with another free-kick over the bar, although this one did not miss by much more than a foot.

Connor Rollinson, who put in another solid performance in his unfavoured full-back position in the absence of Dean Twibey, who had failed a late fitness test, picked up the ball in space in his own half. Driving into opposition territory, the youngster picked up a head of steam, skipping around two challenges and cutting inside, before unleashing a 35 yard shot that flew straight into the arms of Walstow.

Steve Lyon is denied a second by a fine save from Dale Walstow

With half-time looming, Steve Lyon was denied a gilt-edged chance to extend The Colls’ lead when he was played through by Scott McGrory. Racing clear of the defence, the striker faced a one-on-one with the Hemsworth ‘keeper, tried to lift the ball over the onrushing Walstow, but was denied by a fine block.

The second half seemed to take an eternity to get started. With The Colls showing next to no fluency whatsoever, the players struggling to come to terms with the strong winds, and the fusspot of a referee blowing his whistle for the most innocuous of challenges, the game descended from scrappy to previously uncharted depths. The quality was negligible, and the entertainment even less.

Liam Ormsby – captaining the side in the absence of Twibey – seemed determined to lead by example, winning the ball on the right and beating two men. However, the move was then spoiled – as were so many of Ponte’s attacks – by a wayward pass, and Hemsworth were allowed to clear their lines.

With the visitors enjoying the bulk of possession, Lee Kelsey betrayed the growing unease in the Ponte ranks when mishandling a lofted high ball, almost allowing the ball to cross the line into the net.

Having failed to heed the warning, Pontefract were pegged back in the 69^th minute. When Stephen Edwards failed to prevent Crapper from delivering a cross into the box, his team-mates somehow allowed the ball to sail over their heads and land at the feet of Damion Liddle in the six yard box. The Hemsworth substitute was even allowed the time to take a touch before slamming the ball past Kelsey and into the back of the net.

With Pontefract unable to generate any quality or momentum after the interval, the inevitable winner came ten minutes later, and it was another case of chaos reigning in the Pontefract box. A cross from the right created confusion between defenders and ‘keeper and, when Kelsey mishandled, the ball rolled to Lee Dawson, who rolled it into the empty net to give his side the lead.

It was no more than the visitors deserved for their endeavours. They managed to see out the remaining ten minutes without incident, and were delighted to take the three points from the derby, having turned around a first-half deficit. The hosts, by contrast, were distraught, realising that they had blown a golden opportunity to open up a gap at the top of the table.

The story of Ponte’s season at the half-term stage is the story of a team with a split personality. More often than not in the first half of the campaign, the team have been terrific: tight in defence, with the ability to play a possession game, use the full width of the pitch and play their opponents off the park. One their off-day, they have been inept: edgy in defence, unable to string two passes together, and devoid of all fluidity.

With a record of 13 wins, 6 defeats and – incredibly – no draws from their opening 19 games, the team are well-placed, tied on 39 points with Worksop and Albion Sports at the top of the table. However, it is the nature of the six defeats that will be giving cause for concern to Brendon Ormsby. Following their second successive inept Saturday afternoon showing, the Colls’ manager and his assistant Duncan Bray held the players back in the dressing room for an extended post-mortem. With the midweek President’s Cup match away at Handsworth, they are presented with an early opportunity to right the wrongs. Doubtless, the management team will be tempted to experiment, in search of eradicating the team’s penchant for misfiring on occasion.

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

Pontefract: Lee Kelsey, Connor Rollinson, Stephen Edwards, Tom Robinson, Gareth Roberts, Scott McGrory, Ryan Poskitt (repl. Leon Guest, 79), Liam Ormsby (capt), Steve Lyon, Greig McGrory (repl. James Hicks, 60), Will Ramsay (repl. Warren Redford, 86)

Subs not used: Duncan Bray

Goal: Ryan Poskitt (20)

Cautions: Gareth Roberts, Tom Robinson, James Hicks