Ponte Colls were back in action after Saturday’s game against Sheffield FC became the latest to fall to a waterlogged pitch. However, by thursday the pitch had drained extremely well and no inspection would be required. This fixture was a clash between The Collieries and The Colliers, as Ashington AFC were the visitors to The Hunters Stadium.
Adam Haw got the game underway on the day in which he celebrated his birthday, he came close to getting on the end of an early Frankie Sinfield cross. Sinfield in the early exchanges caused Ashington’s right back all kinds of issues, as he jinked and turned before supplying wonderful balls into the danger area – but the defence were standing strong.
Pontefract were handed a chance to break the deadlock on 27 minutes. Adam Haw found himself with the ball inside a crowded box, a challenge came in from Ormston that the referee deemed to be a foul as he pointed to the spot. Up stepped Adam Haw to roll the ball down the middle of the goal, 1-0 Colls!
Craig Rouse’s side continued to create chances, Oli Metcalfe saw an opening come and go before Jack Boyle had a free kick tipped past the post.
Ashington despite the pressure had looked lively on the counter attack and on the back of a Colls corner they broke away at speed. Wilson Kneeshaw was played in behind and he kept his cool to fire low past the dive of Lloyd Allinson.
The sides were level for a matter of minutes, Kneeshaw turned provider this time as he found himself away down the left. He broke into the box and he found Paul Van-Zandvliet arriving late and his effort found the roof of the net to turn the game on its head.
The end to the half seemed to have drained the life from Ponte and given life to Ashington, as they started the second half the same way the first ended. As we enter the final 30 minutes the visitors grabbed a third, Kneeshaw again beating the offside trap and tearing down on goal before sliding past Allinson.
Rouse looked to the bench and introduced Myles La Bastide and Callum Nicell, the former earned a corner and in acrobatic fashion turned the ball goalwards for Adam Haw to poke him from inside the six yard box to reduce the arrears.
Pontefract by this point were flooding bodies forward and creating clear cut opportunities, Jack Boyle was unable to keep his effort on target before Adam Haw snatched at a chance for a hattrick.
With time running out Jack Greenhough launched in a trademark long-throw. The ball, dropped inside the box to Danny Burns and he was able to slide the ball back across the face of goal to Louie Chorlton to stab in from close range.
Adam Haw had one final chance to grab the winner and his third as Jack Boyle did his best to nod down a cross into the box, but the Ashington defence did well to smother the opportunity. The referee blew his whistle to end a real rollercoaster battle and both teams leave with a point.
The Colls now host Bridlington Town this Saturday at The Hunters Stadium, as we look to return to winning ways in the league.
Headline image courtesy of The Dribbling Code.