Turner continues Parkgate’s revival

Toolstation NCEL Premier Division

Pontefract Collieries 1-3 Parkgate

• Jordan Turner scored a hat-trick for Parkgate and also claimed one of the misses of the season on an icy surface.
• Pontefract scored a late consolation through Luke Danville in Craig Parry’s first full game in charge since his appointment as the permanent boss.
• Parkgate’s victory lifts them above Brigg Town and out of the relegation zone.

Jordan Turner is taking the plaudits by scoring the goals, but Parkgate are a resurgent side all over the field. Their newfound belief was on show again, eight days on since the deserved win at Garforth Town. Even at Worksop Town on Saturday, Steve Adams’ side gave the promotion-chasers a few problems.

The visitors, full of confidence, soon grasped the nettle on a frost surface that got tougher minute by minute. Referee Michael Brownsett was concerned upon his arrival at Beechnut Lane and only gave the thumbs-up at 7.30pm. Pontefract probably now wish he had said no. A fact in Pontefract’s defence against their poor performance is that the match was their first since December 5th.

That said, their defence failed to get to grips with Turner and his hard-working colleague Ben Thornton. There had been several warnings prior to Turner’s speculative effort from distance slipping through the hands of home goalkeeper Ellis Halpine.

Pontefract’s young stopper soon made up for the mistake by diving at the feet of Turner, taking the ball in one go, after the striker had breached the back-line. Halpine was left exposed for the second goal. Thornton did all the hard work, racing down the right, to provide a perfectly flighted cross for Turner to get the slightest touches on the ball to guide it into the bottom corner.

New Pontefract manager Craig Parry made two changes at the interval, to a team containing four debutants in the starting lineup — Brad Kerr, Josh Wright, Paul Sykes and Steve Palfrey. Wetherby Athletic goalkeeper Liam Corbett replaced Halpine and Samir Ahmed took the place of Phil Lindley. Apart from a dodgy first few minutes, Pontefract were miles better.

Turner should have secured the match-ball straightaway after dispossessing a stranded Corbett. The striker, signed from Hallam recently, could have actually walked the ball in, that was how much space he had. Instead he slid it across the floor from 18-yards and watched, like many, as the ball rolled to the wrong side of the post.

A few chuckles were audible, but the striker got the last laugh with a third goal, scored from close range, in the final ten minutes. Pontefract, having struggled to find a way through a determined Parkgate defence, managed to force a consolation. Using brute force, Danville got the ball over-the-line from a Pontefract corner in the dying minutes.

The damage had already been done from Pontefract’s perspective and with a trip to Worksop looming, a massive improvement is needed. Where Parkgate are concerned, just keep playing like they have been doing in the last six matches.

What they said

Pontefract Collieries manager Craig Parry:

Line-ups

Pontefract Collieries: Halpine (Corbett HT), Danville, Whitehouse (captain), Sykes, Lindley (Ahmed HT), Wright, Reece, Palfrey, Kerr, Mawson, Schofield. Subs unused: Haigh, Rouse.
Parkgate: Spink, Yates, Scott, Barnett, Wesley (captain), Higgins, Kabeya, Naylor, Thornton (Ashton 83), Turner, Mbean. Subs unused: Lofudu, Stuart, Hall, Allott.
Referee: Michael Brownsett
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 78
Man of the match: Wesley Scott (Parkgate)