Toolstation NCEL Division One
Pontefract Collieries assistant manager Craig Rouse
Leaders Pontefract Collieries are taking nothing for granted as the promotion race nears its conclusion, assistant manager Craig Rouse has said.
With a six point lead at the top, Pontefract are currently in the driving seat going into the final throes of an exhilarating Division One promotion battle.
Seven consecutive victories have taken them there – a run which has included wins over their rivals AFC Emley, Grimsby Borough, Penistone Church and Hallam.
The Colls have nine games remaining and Rouse told Non League Yorkshire: “The job is nowhere near done and we have stressed that to the lads.
“There’s nine games to go and we have seen teams slip up recently against teams at the bottom end or teams in the middle of the table.
“We have to approach every game in the same way we did against Emley, Grimsby, Hallam, Penistone by doing the job professionally.
“We are in a great position though. If someone had offered us this position 18 or 19 games ago when we say in eighth, we would have snapped their hand off.”
The Colls host Nostell Miners Welfare tomorrow, a few days on from the crucial 2-0 win over Hallam, whose goalkeeper David Darwent was sent off early on after head-butting Jordan Turner.
Headers from deadly duo Chris Jackson and Chris Wood in either half led the Colls to victory.
“It was a pleasing result to say the performance wasn’t great,” Rouse added.
“We let the lads know that in the changing room because it wasn’t acceptable and below the standards we have set in the last five or six weeks.
“The sending off of the goalkeeper had a massive impact on the game, even though there wasn’t many chances in the first half.
“Myself and Paz (Craig Parry) were actually itching to get in at half-time before the opener because we felt Hallam were on top and we wanted to give the lads some instructions to settle them down.
“To get a goal against the run of play (through Jackson) was very pleasing and we were able to approach the second half in a different manner.”