NPL Division One East Round-Up (1)
Wayne Benn’s Ossett United enjoyed an outstanding start to the season with the 2-0 victory at local rivals Pontefract Collieries, ruining Craig Rouse’s homecoming.
If the first game is to go by, Ossett have left the struggles of the last two years behind them.
Aaron Haswell set the wheels in motion for Ossett with a brilliant free kick from 25 yards out in the 38th minute.
Pontefract went hell for leather with an all-out assault on Ossett – using similar tactics deployed during the glory years under Craig Parry and Rouse.
The Colls hit the post and goalkeeper Max Dearnley, an Ponte stopper, made an important stop as well.
Benn introduced James Walshaw and George Green -who only re-signed for Ossett this week – and it was the midfielder who made a dream comeback.
Green started the free-flowing move in the latter stages and after great link-up play with Archie Whitfield, he found himself through and all he needed to do was roll it past Ryan Musselwhite.
Stocksbridge Park Steels impressively drew 0-0 with North East giants Stockton Town.
Stockton hit the crossbar early on and Mikey Roberts had a goal-bound effort taken away from by incredible defending from Steels stalwart captain Liam McFadyen.
Steels themselves hit the woodwork twice through Lewis Whitham and Joe Lumsden.
Ossett and Stocksbridge meet at Ingfield on Tuesday while Pontefract head to Pickering Town.