The Colls began their Northern Premier League North East league with a home game, welcoming newly promoted Grimsby Borough to The Hunters Stadium on a sweltering day in Pontefract. A good preseason schedule for Ponte and win in the FA Cup last week gave Ponte something to build on.
Before kick off we held a minutes applause in memory of Sheila Bailey – the mother of Fabian Bailey – everyone at the club sends our best wishes to the family!
With the game underway, it didn’t take Ponte long to get a foothold in the game. A first attack saw Mikey Dunn fire over after smart forward play. But it was only a minute later (3rd minute) when a Jack Greenhough throw in from the right found a totally unmarked Joe Lumsden, he did enough to turn the ball into the bottom corner for an unopposed opener.
Grimsby had a huge chance to level the scores, but it was last week’s cup hero Lloyd Allinson who made a great low save. A ball in behind left the Grimsby man clear through but he wasn’t able to beat Allinson.
Ponte made the visitors pay with just over ten minutes on the clock, tidy interplay between Lumsden and Allott put the former away he jinked inside and saw his shot blocked. But on the rebound Allott was first there to fire low between defender and ‘keeper to make it 2-0.
More chances came and went for Ponte but the game’s next real talking point saw a free kick given on the edge of the Colls box. Ben Turner was adjudged to have pulled his man down, calls came from Grimsby for a red card but after a conversation with his assistant the referee gave a yellow card.
Ponte rounded off a good half with their third goal with six minutes of the half remaining. Another Greenhough long throw in found the head of a leaping Lumsden, his header took a deflection on its way into the far corner for 3-0.
A fantastic first half in the heat saw the host clear at the break and were certainly in command.
Another fast start for The Colls almost saw us extend our lead. Gavin Allott picked the ball up on the right flank, he stepped passed one and inside another before his shot was saved and the rebound sliced wide by Dunn.
Allinson was forced into making a couple of routine saves as the visitors had a spell of pressure before the second half water break. The restart didn’t see a change of fortunes for the visitors however.
A throw in inside the Grimsby half was played back to the left centre back, he fired a pass wide of his partner at the back and Mikey Dunn snuck in to steal the ball. Good footwork saw Dunn evade Jordan Barnett who was already on a yellow card, Barnett raised his hands and stopped Dunn breaking into the box and saw red for a second yellow. The resulting free kick had to be tipped over.
Seven second half minutes left on the clock and the game was signed, sealed and delivered. Baxendale was lively to get onto a clearance, he danced past the Grimsby left back to curl in a great cross across the face of goal and Lumsden was on hand to glance home for his third. A trio of strikers finishes from Lumsden, which also secured him the Man of the Match as well as the match ball!
The full time whistle blew to see Ponte end the opening day as the league leaders with a resounding win. Four well taken goals and a clean sheet to make it a perfect start for Craig Rouse’s men, which saw him give debuts to Harry Spratt, Gavin Allot, Adam Priestley, Adam Porritt and second debuts to Jake Picton and James Baxendale.
Attendance: 277
Match Report Written by Charlie Fletcher
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