The nasty ones

Pontefract Collieries (Colls) v Hall Road Rangers (Rangers) – 18 March 2017

Northern Counties East League Division 1

Attendance 168

I identified Pontefract Collieries as the team to beat in the NCEL Division 1 earlier in the season and so it was proving to be.  I missed the home defeat of Hall Road Rangers back in October, a game by all accounts Rangers could have won, so I had this fixture pencilled in my diary for some time (as much as you can pencil in Google Calendar).  The alternative game was watching North Ferriby United battle for survival against Solihull Moors and friend Rick said he was fed up of seeing them lose.  I plugged Pontefract in the satnav and Rick rode shotgun for the top of the table clash 1st versus 3rd.

The satnav dropped us at the end of row of houses where there was a playing field with two teams warming up.  For just a moment I thought we must have gone wrong, but then I recognised some familiar faces.  We were in the right place, the unassuming ground was just behind.  Once inside we could see there was plenty of cover and proper seating not bleaches but the place wouldn't miss a little TLC in the summer.

The match day programme is a good quality colour one with a lot of statistics and information but no bloody staples in it.  The seemed to be no working tannoy and the whiteboard for the teams was blank so we had to quickly mark up the programme as best we could.

Admission £5.00
concessions £3.00
free for under 16s
Match day programme £1.50      







     






Hall Road had the better of the early exchanges creating a number of chances but failed to capitalise on any of them.  Perhaps they were trying just a bit too hard to force the issue at times shooting from distance and added to this the Colls goalkeeper (Ben Saynor) was impressive form.

The key moment of the first half was to come on 34 minutes when a speculative ball found Jordan Turner in space and from the edge of the penalty box he fired into the top far corner.  Phil Dobson in the Rangers goal had no chance; to save that he would need the levitation skills of Dynamo or a magic carpet!

Not surprisingly Pontefract started the brighter in the second half.  On the 50 minute mark a long throw from the right was headed dangerously into the Rangers box and Jordan Turner was on hand to score again.  That was effectively game over, but the Rangers player continued to attack in the hope of narrowing the deficit and perhaps nicking a valuable point.  As so often is the case this, together with a sapping heavy pitch, lead to gaps for the Colls to exploit.  Christopher Jackson added the third on 64 minutes (which I missed with the video camera due to being distracted by updates on Hull City and North Ferriby United).  Jordan Turner then completed his hat-trick on 75 minutes, latching onto a defensive error to face Phil Dobson one on one and the finish with great composure.

Match highlights Video

As they say, not a good day at the office, but there is much still to play for and Rangers need to get themselves back up ready for Saturday’s home game against Brigg Town.

As we were leaving a Pontefract supporter suggested that these were two of the nastiest teams in the division.  A bit harsh perhaps but there was no holding back in the tackling by either side and the referee, who didn't have an easy job out in the middle, had reason to speak to both benches during a first half altercation.  He could well have shown a red in the first half and was lenient not showing a yellow for a fairly blatant dive late in the second half.

I think Pontefract should finish champions with Rangers battling it out with Emley for the other automatic promotion spot.  It is likely to be close with the team coming 3rd having to rely on the play offs needing to make the most of home advantage.  A good entertaining game but probably more enjoyable for Colls fans and any neutrals present.