Toolstation NCEL Division One
Pontefract Collieries 3-0 Glasshoughton Welfare
Chris Jackson celebrates one of his goals in Pontefract’s derby day victory. Picture: whiterosephotos.co.uk
Chris Jackson’s hat trick in the home derby game with Glasshoughton Welfare ensured that the Colls went to the top of the NCEL for 24 hours.
This was a feisty affair at Beechnut Lane on a dry but cool night. The home side fielded five former Welfare players and one, Mickey Dunn, was shown a second half red card for a strong tackle on Lewis Akeister.
In fairness the result probably flattered Welfare because Jackson struck the post twice and with better control he could easily have had another four goals.
In front of 189 spectators Welfare were first to attack and Connor Glavin saw a 25 yard shot charged down.
The home side took the lead on five minutes when poor defending on the halfway line saw the ball given away. Jackson took control and he ran on and he hammered the ball over Dan Waring.
Straight from the restart the home side attacked again and Dunn saw an angled shot drift just over the bar. Kane Reece then headed just wide.
Glavin had a low shot easily gathered before the home side increased the lead on 18 minutes. Long throw expert Tom Carr hurled a throw in from the halfway line to the edge of the Welfare area and Dunn jinked his way past a static defence before sliding the ball across the goal where Jackson slotted home.
Welfare were stunned but they tried to hit back. Glavin had a free kick blocked and Adam Hayton hit a shot over the bar. After a good move down the left Ryan Poskitt just failed to prod the ball past Saynor and a defender.
However this was turning into the Chris Jackson show and in the last quarter of the half he should have put his side well out of sight. He fired one shot just over the bar before Waring saved another shot.. The striker then hit a post with a wicked shot before firing another effort wide. The first half ended with him yet again firing the ball against a post.
The second period began with Callum Stapleton forcing Waring to palm the ball away and Carr fired the loose ball over the bar.
Jackson notched his hat trick on 58 minutes. Once again poor defending saw Welfare lose the ball. Reece crossed and Jackson headed past Waring.
Just after this, Dunn saw red when his flying tackle sent Akeister crashing to the ground.
More poor defending allowed Carr a clear run on goal but he hammered the ball the wrong side of the post.
Shortly before the end Jackson should have increased his tally. Firstly he rounded Waring before his final shot was hacked away and then with only the welfare keeper to beat he pushed the ball just wide of the post.
What They Said
Glasshoughton Welfare joint manager Lee Vigars
“Very disappointed with tonight. We simply didn’t turn up against an impressive Pontefract side who punished our under par performance. It’s not an excuse but with a number of key players missing through injuries and holidays it does affect your systems that have proven successful up to this point. It’s been a learning curve for some tonight and we need to pick the boys up and go again against Ollerton this weekend. Hopefully we will put a number of wrongs right.”
The Team
Pontefract Collieries: Saynor, Greenhough, Jeffs, Haigh, Williams, Stapleton, Reece, Seed, (Corbett) Carr, (Mawson) Jackson, Dunn. Subs unused: Turner, Fort.
Glasshoughton Welfare: Waring, Marsh, Brearley, Hayton, Varley, Harrison, Poskitt, Akeister, (Horbury) Scothern, Glavin, Keightley. Subs unused: Moyce, Morley, Bryer, Holland.
Thanks to Garry Mollon for this report.