Yorkshire Amateur 0:4 Pontefract Collieries
Baris Northern Counties East League, First Division
Saturday 17^th December, 2011

Pontefract put their recent defeats behind them with a convincing win away at Yorkshire Amateur to complete a treble over the Leeds team, having previously being triumphant in both league and FA Cup fixtures.

With Pontefract’s “gloriously inconsistent” form yielding 14 wins and 7 defeats from their league campaign to date – with 3 of the defeats having come during the previous 5 matches – a draw never seemed likely, with the chief determining factor in the result being which personality the schizophrenic visitors brought to the game. As it turned out, it was apparent from the early exchanges that the purring, controlled Colls were in town.

Nicky Handley - the returning skipper put in a command performance

With Dean Twibey returning from injury and long-term absentee Nicky Handley restored to both the centre of the Pontefract defence and the captaincy, the visitors were boosted in terms of both solidity and leadership. With a firm foundation behind them, the expansive forward players flourished, taking the game to their hosts from the first blow of the referee’s whistle. Ryan Poskitt, in particular, was enjoying himself. Poskitt started with a jinking run beyond three opponents, before his cross was cut out by an Ammers defender.

Poskitt was hungry for the ball, exchanging passes with Twibey before chipping a cross onto the head of Steve Lyon. Lyon headed back across the face of goal and into the path of Scott McGrory, who smashed his volley into the side netting.

With much of Pontefract’s good early work taking place on the right flank, Twibey, Lyon and Poskitt executed a fine interchange of quick, short passes to work an opening for Poskitt, who chipped a delightful ball over the advancing centre half and into the path of Lyon, who volleyed wide across the face of goal.

Ryan Poskitt goes close with a curling free kick

Poskitt then chanced his arm himself, cutting inside before sending a left-footed shot into the midriff of the grateful ‘keeper, Joshua Proctor. Poskitt then curled a 23 yard free-kick just over Proctor’s bar, before floating a free-kick in from the left and onto the boot of Lyon who, finding himself with his back to goal, attempted an audacious overhead kick. Lyon made a good contact, but again the ‘keeper was perfectly positioned and the ball flew into his arms.

Liam Ormsby slots home to open the scoring

The same two players combined to set up the opening goal. Lyon collected the ball from an incisive Liam Ormsby pass, and released Poskitt – who had traded wings with Connor Rollinson – on the left. Poskitt ran towards goal, rounded the ‘keeper and steadied himself to apply the finish, but was tripped by a retreating defender. Referee Nigel Haycock pointed to the spot, and Liam Ormsby stepped up to convert with assuredness.

Scott McGrory leaps to double the advantage

Pontefract controlled possession for the remainder of the first half, not allowing their opponents a single shot on target or opening of any description. With Handley and Twibey joined by the impressive Gareth Roberts and a rejuvenated Stephen Edwards in the back line, The Colls comfortably repelled any Ammers insurgency. Crucially, the team retained possession once they had earned it, with Liam Ormsby particularly effective, hardly giving the ball away at all during the opening half, and playing some perfectly delivered passes into the path of his forwards. A curling ball down the right channel into the path of Greig McGrory led to a corner on the stroke of half-time. Ryan Poskitt delivered the cross onto the head of Scott McGrory, who rose to head home and double the visitor’s lead on the stroke of half time.

Having broken with tradition and started the first half beautifully, The Colls redressed the balance by starting the second half sluggishly. When skipper Tom Marsden – the host’s outstanding performer – cut between Rollinson and Edwards, running into the box before lifting a cross inches over the head of his striker. It was as close as the hosts were to come to pulling a goal back, and seemed to reawaken the visitors from their lethargy.

Liam Ormsby's 25-yarder hits the net

Scott McGrory drove beyond two players and into the penalty area, but his cross was misplaced and cleared by the hosts. Stephen Edwards, who was enjoying one of his finer outings for the team, landed a cross onto the forehead of Greig McGrory, whose header was saved by the ‘keeper. McGrory helped himself moments later, turning his marker before unleashing a vicious shot from 25 yards that stung the palms of the ‘keeper, who could only parry away for a corner. Rollinson, whose hard work and quality embodied everything that was right in Pontefract’s positive approach to the game, beat two men to win a corner on the right. When the corner was headed clear, Liam Ormsby was lurking outside the area to pick up the ball. The youngster side-stepped his marker, dipped his shoulder and sent a looping shot over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net from 25 yards. The goal completed Ormsby’s brace to cap a commanding performance in the middle of the park and, more importantly, made the game safe for his team.

The Colls celebrate with scorer Greig McGrory

With Handley providing the leadership expected of an assistant manager at the back, Duncan Bray joined the fray to do likewise at the other end. Bray provided an effective target, holding off his marker time after time, before laying the ball into the path of his team-mates. Bray played a key role in the fourth, providing the apex of a fine move in which he was involved three times, his third contribution being a fiercely struck shot that ballooned off a defender and into the path of Greig McGrory. The striker struck his volley into the ground, from where it bounced over the ‘keeper and into the roof of the net.

James McDaid, on for Scott McGrory, crashed a low drive towards the bottom corner of the Ammers’ net, but was denied by a full-stretch save from Proctor. Greig McGrory set up Bray with a lay off from his chest, but the assistant manager’s shot had it’s pace diminished by a deflection and was comfortably saved by Proctor.

With back-to-back games against neighbours Glasshoughton to come over the festive period – at home on Boxing Day and Leeds Road on 2^nd January – this performance and result provided a timely confidence booster for The Colls. Having completed some good work on the training ground since the destabilising defeat by Hallam, the team have restored their verve and control. Wherever he looked over the park, Brendon Ormsby could view positive performances from his charges. In particular, the addition of Handley into the back line seemed to lift the performances of those around him, while Ormsby junior was simply outstanding from start to finish.

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

Pontefract: Lee Kelsey, Dean Twibey, Stephen Edwards, Nicky Handley (captain), Gareth Roberts, Scott McGrory (repl. James McDaid, 83), Ryan Poskitt (repl. Will Ramsay, 72), Liam Ormsby, Stephen Lyon (repl. Duncan Bray, 75), Greig McGrory, Connor Rollinson

Sub unused: Tom Robinson

Goals: Liam Ormsby (22 [pen], 78), Scott McGrory (45), Greig McGrory (83)

Cautions: none