Hebburn Town were the visitors to The Regional Electrical Services Ltd Stadium, on the back of a 1-5 hammering by Stocksbridge Park Steels, while Ponte were looking to bounce back from a poor show at Shildon.
Hebburn Town had a lot of the early possession but could only convert it into a single gilt-edged chance for Connor Bell, the ball was squared to him six yards from goal where it seemed easier to score but he missed his kick.
Ponte soon made the visitors pay – on 32 minutes Derry Robson played in Joao Rangel down the right whose cross found Ponte debutant Rob Guilfoyle (on loan from Bradford PA) 12 yards from goal, his looping header nestled into the far corner to put Colls into the lead in the league for the first time since 28th September.
HT Colls 1-0 Hebburn.
The second half yielded few clear-cut chances for either side, until the 66th minute when Ponte stole the ball on halfway and with two slick passes had slotted in Guilfoyle, he had all the time needed to pick his spot in the far corner and send a boisterous Shed End wild.
The visitors then clicked into gear and started to create more opportunities, the best of these fell to Olly Martin on 82 minutes. A deep cross evaded the Ponte defenders, leaving the goal at his mercy from six yards, but Ryan Musselwhite was there to maintain Ponte’s two-goal cushion with a great save.
It wasn’t to last though, a free kick given on the edge of the area, which was somewhat dubious, was converted superbly by the substitute Michael Richardson. It glanced in off the crossbar with the goalkeeper helpless with four minutes of normal time remaining. This set up a nervy finish, but Colls were a match to it and saw the remains of the game (including over six additional minutes) without incident to secure only their third league win of the season.
This was a match where everything the lads have threatened for a while matches came together, with a solid defensive and midfield display providing the platform for our forwards to express themselves and secure a win with two excellent goals. Ponte next travel to Marske United on Tuesday 16/11.
Attendance 237.
Match Report Courtesy of Chris Walton.