After a disappointing start to the league campaign the Saturday prior, The Colls were keen to put things right starting with the trip to Pickering Town. Ponte were bolstered with news of the returning Jack Greenhough and Spencer Clarke to the defensive line (Captain and Vice Captain respectively).
Both team observed a minutes silence prior to kick off, this came after a delayed kick off due to illness to the referee. He was unable to take the game and this saw one of Pickering’s bar staff take to the line as assistant referee.
The first ten minutes of the game saw little in the way of chances on goal, however both sides looked keen to right their opening day wrongs. The first chance of the game came on eleven minutes, Scott Smith ran at his man and his cut back found Eli Hey. His shot was turned goal bound but the Pickering stopper spread himself to make a smart stop.
Five minutes later the visitors continued to push forward. Musselwhite struck a free kick deep into the Pickering half, Redford flicked on for the advancing Greenhough to deliver a whipped cross but the defender did well to clear for a corner. The resulting set piece was drilled in, but Spencer Clarke couldn’t quite keep his header on target.
The early pressure told with twenty minutes on the clock, another ball into the box this time fell to Jack Lazenby. He hit a well timed volley low and hard through bodies and the ball nestled into the corner of the hosts net, One-nil Colls.
Straight from the restart Lazenby almost grabbed a second. Scott Smith swooped in to intercept a loose pass, he cut back to Lazenby who showed good footwork to skip past two defenders and hit a curled effort which cannoned back off the post.
Just short of the half hour saw Derry Robson steal possession high in the Pickering half, he burst clear only to be denied by a last ditch block. Minutes later Pickering had their first real chance of the half. The Pikes wide man found himself bearing down on Musselwhite who remained big and made a good challenge, the rebound fell to the Pickering man who fired at goal only to be stopped by a goal line clearance from Jack Greenhough.
The centre half pairing of Spencer Clarke and Callum Brook appeared to be jelling well despite this being their first minute of football together. Spencer dominant in the air, whilst Callum showed great speed and positional sense to mop up any danger.
Half time saw The Colls go in leading by a goal to nil. A very lively half for the neutrals in attendance, within a crowd of 134.
In the early minutes of the half our away following were baying for blood, the Pickering defender clipped the feet of Eli Hey who was breaking past the last man. He received a yellow card for the foul. The resulting free kick from Jack Lazenby was whipped into a dangerous area, instead of clearing the danger the Pickering defender glanced a header into the back of the net doubling Ponte’s lead.
The West Yorkshire side pushed for the kill and had a chance to add to their two goal advantage. First Derry Robson and Eli Hey combined to set the former in on goal, Hey then tried to round the ‘keeper who did really well to keep his feet and save the resulting shot.
Pickering had their first shot of the half as the left winger cut inside on the counter attack and fizzed wide of Musselwhite’s goal. The hosts task was made even more difficult moment later, Ponte were braking at their opponents defence. Redford poked the ball passed his man and the resulting challenge was late, but at knee height. After uproar from the Ponte players and coaching staff the defender saw red.
A pair of substitutes saw Jimmy Williams replace Spencer Clarke, there were initial fears of a muscle injury to our vice captain but luckily it appears to just have been cramp. Mikey Dunn then came on for Scott Smith who had another good performance.
Jimmy Williams was quickly required, Musselwhite met a deep cross but was clattered into in the process. The resulting shot was heading in, if not for Williams heading off the line. With ten minute on the clock remaining the playing field was equaled as Fabian Bailey saw red for an off the ball incident. He shepherded the ball out of play and the Pickering No. 10 shoved Bailey into the pitchside hoardings, which led to a reaction and another coming together of bodies. Bailey was shown red and the Pickering man only saw yellow.
Dylan Collington came on for Vaughan Redford as a late sub, he made a strong tackle in midfield which saw Ponte break forward once more. Eli Hey laid off to Jack Lazenby who exchanged passes with Greenhough, the latter found his way to the byline and found Eli Hey at the near post with a perfect cross who duly obliged and power home from six yards out.
With almost the last kick of the game the host gained themselves a consolation goal. They threw men forward and their front man found himself one versus one with Musselwhite, he kept his cool and slotted into the net to leave the score at 1-3 to The Colls.
A solid away performance and it was good to see three goals after a couple of games without a goal. Our attention now turns to the FA Cup this Saturday, in a cup tie away at Goole AFC.
Pickering Town Team; Adam Kelsey, Jack Johnson, Jake Watson, Jamie Thornton, Ben Clappison, Will Taylor, Brandon Holdsworth, Lewis Taylor, Jordan Deacey, Wayne Brooksby and Aston Harrison. Subs; Matt Broadley (Aston Harrison), Adam Warrilow, Thomas Alngohuro (Lewis Taylor), Luke Balderson and Lewis Hill.
Pontefract Collieries Team; Ryan Musselwhite, Jack Greenhough, Fabian Bailey, Callum Brook, Spencer Clarke (Jimmy Williams), Jack Vann, Jack Lazenby, Derry Robson, Scott Smith (Mikey Dunn), Eli Hey and Vaughan Redford (Dylan Collington). Subs; Jimmy Williams, Dylan Collington, Kane Reece, Mikey Dunn and Layton Swaine.
