The Collieries maintained their unbeaten November with a big three points at home to Liversedge. Mikey Dunn came on as a second half substitute, before scoring the equaliser and setting up the winner for Bailey Thompson to spark wild scenes among the home fans.
Both sides went into the fixture in good form in the league, Liversedge had won on the road at Ashington last weekend and Ponte won away at Grimsby Borough. The two West Yorkshire sides held lofty ambitions to achieve a play off spot and this was billed as a big game.
Following a minute’s silence in memory of former Liversedge coach Simon Emery – the husband of club secretary Jeanette – the game got underway in cold conditions under the lights. The early exchanges saw both sides trying to gain the upper hand in the midfield. Lloyd Allinson was called upon to make a smart low save, up the other end Chorlton was denied with a last ditch block.
With just over twenty minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken. A flick on dropped to the Liversedge midfielder who worked the ball wide to Hardacre, his cross back across goal perfectly found Nicky Walker to head in at the back stick. 0-1 the visitors.
Ponte were restricted to efforts from range, Boyle, Haw and Thompson all having shots from outside the box but either drifted high or wide or were easily held by Jordan Porter in the Liversedge goal. The half time whistle blew to give ‘Sedge the advantage at the break.
Craig Rouse’s men came out in the second half with work to do, however had Allinson to thank for keeping us in the game. He made two huge saves in the first 15 minutes of the half, first to deny Walker his second and then Joe Walton to keep us in the game.
The Colls subs were called and on came Mikey Dunn and Jack Greenhough and both made an instant impact, Ponte won a corner after good interplay down the right hand side. Connor Smythe curled in a corner and Dunn reacted first to a loose ball to volley in from close range, 1-1 game on!
Elliot Owen had been moved from full back to centre back following the changes and he required to make a perfectly timed last ditch tackle, he got his toe to a threw ball that almost put Walker in. Liversedge perhaps rued their chances and matters were made worse, Ryan Toulson lunged into a challenge after a poor first touch and caught Connor Smythe high up his shin. The referee had no choice but to brandish a red card to the Liversedge man.
Pontefract were now throwing the kitchen sink at their West Yorkshire rivals and when a poor kick from Porter found Smythe in midfield, his header was flicked on by Thompson and Haw fed the ball wide to the advancing Dunn. He danced and weaved passed him man and put a wonderful ball across goal, where Bailey Thompson was on hand to turn goalward. The Shed End erupted as this would surely be the winning goal, 2-1 Colls.
With time running out the visitors evening got even worse. Jack Stockdill already on a yellow card dived into a tackle on Adam Haw and received his marching orders. A second yellow card and he joined his team mate in the changing rooms early. The final whistle blew and the home fans celebrated with the players and management, a big comeback and in the end a great finish to the month of November.
Man of the Match – Lloyd Allinson
Attendance – 231
Match Report written by Charlie Fletcher