Pontefract celebrate Luke Forgione’s goal which put them into a 2-0 lead at Selby
Pontefract Collieries manoeuvred into a position to move into the Toolstation NCEL Division One promotion places next week by cruising to a 3-0 win at Selby Town yesterday.
Pontefract had the points wrapped up at half-time in the one-sided local derby with Andy Catton, Luke Forgione and Mark Whitehouse all scoring inside a nine minute period either side of the half hour mark.
Their full beam remains focussed on leaders AFC Emley, who lost to Clipstone and play second-placed Hemsworth Miners Welfare in six days’ time.
Collieries are level on points with Hemsworth and one behind Emley so a win at Worsbrough next Saturday will guarantee a jump into the top two.
The visitors did bide their time in taking the lead, but the fact that Duncan Bray and Nick Handley’s side hadn’t played for ten days may have been a factor.
However, once as Ponte got into their stride, Selby were taken apart and were fortunate to escape with conceding only three in the first half.
Pontefract congratulate Andy Catton after his quickly-taken free kick put them in front
Selby defenders watch on as Forgione side-foots the ball into the net
Selby Town manager Dave Ricardo (left) watched on in frustration as his side collapsed in the first half
It should be said though that Selby were orchestrators of their own downfall with a production of the comedy of errors.
Goalkeeper Rob Zand dived in vain as he watched Catton’s quickly-taken free kick sail into the bottom corner and Selby never recovered.
Selby’s defence failed to deal with Liam Radford and the former Glasshoughton striker was able to cause absolute mayhem – he even missed an open goal at one point.
Zand was at fault for the second goal. Radford did enough to distract to Zand from a corner and the goalkeeper flapped as the ball was kicked around the six-yard-box before Forgione applied the simple finish.
Time after time Selby allowed Radford to break away without the offside flag going up.
Zand won the first one-on-one, but he made a meal of the second one and Collieries put the final nail in Selby’s coffin.
The Selby stopper pulled out of the challenge with Radford and the striker had plenty of room to make the pass for the experienced Whitehouse to tap home from close range.
Selby survived further attacks before the referee brought the first half to a halt.
Luke Forgione certainly had a smile on his face after scoring in Pontefract’s win
Selby Town goalkeeper Robert Zand’s nightmare afternoon ended after this 50/50 challenge with Craig Rouse
Zand needed lengthy treatment
Zand had to go off injured which gave Theo Ceiply his debut
Understandably Pontefract took their foot off the gas as the second half wore on.
Although Selby did survive a goal-bound rocket from away captain Nigel Danby which was superbly blocked early on.
The introduction of Danny Bunch injected some life into Selby with some good movement.
Zand’s nightmare afternoon was rounded off in a 50/50 challenge with Craig Rouse which left the goalkeeper needing treatment.
His white flag eventually went up after a delay and Selby had to introduce young goalkeeper Theo Ceiply for his debut.
The last 20 minutes fizzled out with neither side committing bodies forward.
Matty Turnbull and Bunch did go close for Selby late-on, but Pontefract were mostly untroubled with goalkeeper Craig Parry almost a spectator.
The win leaves Pontefract on the verge of an almost perfect month which has fired them well and truly into the promotion reckoning.
Selby, on the hand, look miles away from their pre-season targets and without a win in four league games.
Selby Town manager Dave Ricardo:
“Well the first goal killed us because I thought we were on top for the first 20 minutes.
“It was a case of who scored first and unfortunately it was them.
“It was a stupid goal from our point of view and we didn’t retain possession well enough for the next 20 minutes and we gave it away cheaply.
“They’re a good enough side to cause us problems and we conceded two more poor goals before half-time so we were fighting a losing battle.
“They got in a couple of times in the first half and should have scored at least one more.
“In the second half we were the better side and could have scored two or three, but we didn’t have the clinical edge that they had and that was the difference.”
Pontefract Collieries joint manager Duncan Bray:
“I was a bit disappointed we didn’t kick on in the second half and get five or six goals because it would have looked good on our goal difference.
“To be fair, you always take a win and a clean sheet away from home and it carries on a good month for us.
“For the ten minutes you could tell that we have had a couple of games called off because we looked a bit lacklustre.
“I thought for the last half hour of the first half we were superb and played some really good football.
“We could have gone in four or five at half-time, but if we had played the same way in the second half we could have easily got four or five.”
Selby Town: Zand (Ceiply 63), Horsman, Stonehouse, Hope, Evans, Mortimer, Forrester, Turnbull (captain), Wilkin, Muirhead (Start 63), Williams (Bunch HT). Subs unused: Wolski, Raistmet.
Pontefract Colllieries: Parry, Heeley (Coppin 64), Corbett, Danby, Lindley, Forgione, Catton, Joseph, Radford (Rouse 55), Moxon, Whitehouse (Marsden 73). Subs unused: Handley, A Robinson.
Referee: Steven Mercer
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 87
Man of the match: Aaron Joseph (Pontefract Collieries)
Look out for the full album of photos from the game on our Facebook page at 11am.