Busy Week for Ponte Youngsters

Pontefract Collieries U7s played 6 matches against 3 teams within a week and showed them all a thing or two in flowing, passing football. 

On Tuesday evening Ponte travelled to the home of Doncaster Rovers.  In the first match against Doncaster’s Elite squad – which featured Ponte Colls player Alex Washington – Ponte came from behind to finish with a deserved 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from Ethan Pritchard.

In the second match against Rovers’ Development squad Ponte powered to a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Billy Shaw, Max Hazelgrave and Kieran Noon.  Callum Davis and Ellis Skelcher worked their socks off to keep the hosts scoreless.

On Saturday The Colliers travelled for a league encounter with North Duffield.  Ponte were always in control despite a lack of goals in the first half.  Jack Smith was unlucky not to get onto the scoresheet thanks to some last ditch defending.

In the second half Ponte turned up the pressure.  Ellis Skelcher scored followed by a quick second from Ethan Pritchard.  The rest of the half belonged to Skelcher as he rattled in another 3 goals to end with 4 in total and Ponte triumphed 5-0.

In the second match goal keeper Eli Saul, who barely touched the ball in the first match, had a run out and from the opening kick off rounded all 5 Duffield players and slotted the ball through the goalie’s legs.

Before half time Ponte were 5-0 up thanks to a brace from Matthew Doyle, a beauty from Alex Washington and a further goal from Saul.  In the second half Callum Davis, Sam Limbert and Zak Taylor all scored a brace to finish with an 11-0 win. MoM was Ellis Skelcher for his bag full of goals.

On Sunday Ponte welcomed a well drilled Darfield side from South Yorkshire.  The Ponte youngsters passed the ball beautifully running circles around their visitors and it wasn’t long before they took the lead thanks to a goal from Ethan Pritchard.

Max Hazelgrave scored a hat trick thanks in part to great crosses from MoM Josh Lindley and Kieran Noon.  Keeper Eli Saul pulled out a couple of timely saves before Pritchard completed the scoring with his second to finish the match as 5-1 winners.

Credit goes to Talley Bryer and Alex Washington for bossing the play from midfield.  In the second match Saul moved to the outfield but couldn’t repeat his tricks of the day before.

Fatigue from a busy week started to catch up with the players.  Zak Taylor, Sam Limbert, Matthew Doyle, Ellis Skelcher and Jack Smith all went close but just couldn’t get the ball into the net.

In the end Ponte went down 2-0 but that didn’t take the gloss off a busy week of football where the lads did their club proud.