Big moment, big goal: Aaron Moxam celebrates scoring the winner for Pontefract in the 2-1 victory over rivals Clipstone
League leaders Pontefract Collieries heavily boosted their promotion hopes after beating rivals Clipstone 2-1 at Beechnut Lane.
Aaron Moxam’s scrambled second half winner opened up a five point gap for themselves and second-placed AFC Emley ahead of the chasing pack of Shirebrook Town and Clipstone.
Clipstone still retain their two games in hand which could enable them to take top spot.
But, Pontefract, who are ahead of Emley on goals difference, have given themselves an excellent chance with six games remaining.
Aaron Moxam strikes for goal inside the opening 90 seconds
Race against time?: Rich Mintoft desperately races back as the ball slowly trickles over the line
But the goal is given
Pontefract goalkeeper Craig Parry can’t save Mintoft’s penalty
So the importance of the visit of Clipstone was huge and Pontefract got on the front-foot inside 90 seconds, catching their opponents cold.
Clipstone were still in their dressing room as Moxam raced clear from Andy Catton’s pass and fired low under goalkeeper Nick Siddons.
The stopper got a touch on the ball which slowed the speed of the ball. Clipstone captain Rich Mintoft raced back and appeared to clear the ball off-the-line. However, the referee Matthew Tyers ruled the ball had crossed the line and gave the goal to hand Ponte a dream start.
With the heavy wind affecting the game, chances were few and far between. Ponte had the game under control and looked comfortable.
However, despite signalling only two minutes of stoppage time, Clipstone were able to hit back in the 48th minute as referee Tyers controversially awarded a penalty because of a trip on Ash Rawson by Ponte captain Nigel Danby.
Goalkeeper Craig Parry did his best, but Mintoft’s spot kick had too much power so Clipstone levelled to rip up Duncan Bray and Nick Handley’s team talk.
Pontefract refused to be distracted by their dismay at the referee’s time-keeping and were once again rarely troubled.
Pontefract celebrate Moxam’s winner
Aaron Moxam has been a key player for Pontefract since joining from Shirebrook
Pontefract had to cope without Iwan Heeley for the final few minutes after he was sent off
Josh Corbett hit the crossbar with an audacious volley before the winner arrived on the hour – Moxam scoring again from inside the six-yard box.
The home side held on comfortably until the final few minutes when Iwan Heeley was harshly sent off. Referee Tyers deemed that Heeley had denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a slight nudge on Luke Thomas.
Collieries survived the resulting free kick and were able to celebrate a potentially crucial win.
Pontefract Collieries joint manager Duncan Bray:
“It was about grinding it in these conditions because it was gale-force winds and two good sides which were struggling to get hold of the game.
“It was about who could handle the conditions better. It wasn’t a bad start against the wind.
“You were struggling to get out of your own half with that wind so to get a good after just a minute was brilliant.
“We felt a bit upset with the penalty decision on the stroke of half-time because the linesman saw it perfectly and saw that it was a perfect tackle.
“That was a soft penalty to get them back in the game so we were really disappointed at half-time.
“The referee was at a strange angle and made the wrong call.
“But, we put a good shift in the first half and that wind helped us out in the second half.
“We had to ride it out after the goal, but our goalkeeper has had two saves to make all game.”
Pontefract Collieries: Parry, Heeley, Corbett, Danby (captain), Danville (Copping HT), Forgione (Whitehouse 79), Hayton, Rouse, Moxam, Conway (Marsden 81). Subs unused: Handley, Joseph.
Clipstone: Siddons, Paling, Shaw, Rawson, Mintoff (captain), Hill, Brown, Austin, Smith (Thomas 84), Owen, Mawby. Subs unused: Gibson, Carrig, Ord, Whitehead.
Referee: Matthew Tyers
Ref Rating: 7/10
Attendance: 91
Man of the match: Aaron Moxam (Pontefract Collieries)
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