The Colls battles for a share of the spoils in this West Yorkshire Derby, after being reduced to ten minute in the second half.
A minutes silence was held before kick off, in memory of Dan Wilkinson who sadly passed away five years ago. The silence was observed brilliantly by all players, staff and supporters around the ground.
The game got off to a frantic start between two sides in search of three points. Ponte had a few early chances to get at the Brighouse back line, but were unable to find the killer pass in the final third.
Ponte scored from a well worked corner in the week and came close from two more first Mikey Dunn fired over on the volley before Jack Lazenby drilled over from the edge of the box.
In a half of very little joy for either side, Ponte would have been most pleased with their efforts and having the better of the chances on goal.
Brighouse were also creating openings of their own. They were bright down the left hand side with their left winger finding the ball in pockets of space, he caused plenty of difficulties to the Ponte defence.
A lot of first half frustrations were aimed towards the officials, with some odd decisions for and against both teams.
The first chance of the second half fell to Ponte. Vaughan Redford held the ball up and rolled in Eli Hey whose shot was deflected into the keepers arms.
The Colls certainly had the better of the opening exchanges, but it was our hosts who broke the deadlock.
A Jack Vann clearance fell to the Brighouse man in midfield, he played a great diagonal forward ball to his wide man whose cross was pinpoint to find its target. The Brighouse Town no. 8 was on hand to header home from close range.
Ponte weren’t about to throw the towel in and continued to throw plenty at the hosts. A number of half chances blocked at the crucial moment.
It wasn’t all one way traffic though as the hosts had chances of their own on the counter attack, but the Colls defenders and keeper held firm.
The Colls drew level with just over an hour gone. A straight ball into Vaughan Redford was flicked on well to his strike partner Eli Hey, he held off his defender to get into the box. He delayed and then clipped a cross perfectly to the onrushing Redford who beat his man to the ball to power his header in off the post. 1-1.
A flash point in the second half saw the Brighouse skipper almost take Jack Lazenby’s head off with a high challenge. A melee on the ground began with the Brighouse man throwing Jack Lazenby’s head into the turf with his hands. Jimmy Williams intervened only to be adjudged by the officials to have thrown a punch. Williams saw red and the Brighouse man somehow saw yellow.
With the man advantage, Brighouse could have expected to be on top but both sides were pushing forward to grab a winner.
Brighouse fires two chances over the bar after good build up play and Ponte likewise through Jack Lazenby and Derry Robson.
Brighouse had one last chance, a free kick into the box worked its way to the back post where a cross come shot flow high and wide.
A fair result in the end and an important point for The Collieries on the back of some difficult results in the league.
Brighouse Town team;
Pontefract Collieries team;
