Shaw Lane Aquaforce striker Danny Frost scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over Pontefract
Shaw Lane Aquaforce propelled themselves back into Toolstation NCEL Division One top two after ending Pontefract Collieries’ promotion hopes, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Danny Frost’s first half goal was all what Shaw Lane needed in a competitive full blood and thunder encounter at Skinner Lane.
Pontefract put Aquaforce under intense pressure during the second half and Brent Leister also missed a hotly-disputed penalty for the home side in an early part of the final half.
Shaw Lane defended well to hold onto their lead and manager Craig Elliott said: “I didn’t think it was the best of games because there were a lot of free kicks and the ball was out of play a lot.
“Neither team could get a tempo going, but I’m delighted we won. To come to Ponte and win 1-0, that’s what is all about at this stage of the season.
“We’re on the countdown, there are ten games to go and it has been a good weekend for us. We just have to keep having good weekends.
“I had a feeling there would only be one goal in it. I’m not happy with how we played, but I just said to them that they’re the best wins when you get promotion. These are the sort of wins that matter.
“We didn’t get the ball down how I wanted and we looked sluggish without the ball, but if we can take the positives – we dug in and we got the result.
“We did ride our luck a bit in the second half and I must say that I thought Ponte were the better team in the second half. I would say that I didn’t feel it was a penalty so I don’t feel any luck towards that because it was justice when they missed it.
“On the balance of play in the second half, Ponte deserved something, but we did what we had to do and the defence deserves a lot of credit.”
Former Huddersfield Town player Simon Baldry has come out of retirement and made his debut for Shaw Lane at Pontefract
Ninety-eight people turned out for an eagerly-anticipated match that Pontefract had to win. The game wasn’t helped by a poor refereeing display from Ian Thornton, whose performance fell well-below accepted standards and affected a match of such huge importance as it was unable to properly flow.
Kingsley Wetherald’s very harsh yellow card after six minutes set the tone and Thornton dished a further four cautions in debatable circumstances.
Both teams had made bright starts when Aquaforce scored the only goal of the game on 17 minutes. Pontefract initially cleared a Shaw Lane corner before switching off as influential skipper Luke Danville lifted the ball back into the danger zone. The hopeful punt found the unmarked Frost and the predatory striker saw his initial attempt saved, he couldn’t miss from close range from the rebound.
Danville and Frost then joined Wetherald in the referee’s notebook for fouls and had Thornton been positioned correctly he may have chosen against issuing yellow cards.
On the chances front in the first half, Pontefract had little, while Shane Kelsey hit the side-netting for Shaw Lane before the half ended with Ponte’s Michael Staley receiving a caution.
Pontefract knew they would have to throw the kitchen sink in the second half to keep their promotion hopes alive and they must have thought that the luck was with them eight minutes into the half.
The Shaw Lane players were livid with the referee’s decision to award Pontefract a penalty on 53 minutes
Former Garforth and Ossett Town right-back Gary Stohrer was unfairly penalised for handball and despite initially appearing to award a free kick just outside the penalty area, Thornton pointed to the penalty spot.
Six or seven Aquaforce players surrounded the official in protest at the decision and Stohrer was then bizarrely cautioned for the handball, despite it clearly not being deliberate.
Boiling point was reached and Shaw Lane only simmered down when Leister’s spot kick cannoned back off the post and away to safety.
Shaw Lane still had to soak a lot of pressure from Pontefract and Elliott’s men survived a number of shots and scrambles as the half wore on. Andy Catton also went close in the final few minutes for Pontefract.
Defensively Aquaforce were excellent with goalkeeper Jamie Green doing well to slow the game down and Danville leading the back four magnificently.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce captain Luke Danville was excellent in defence
James Burgess and Kelsey had chances to seal the win late-on for Aquaforce, but one goal was enough and with Cleethorpes losing, the visitors celebrated breaking back into the top two.
The job is far from done for Shaw Lane with ten games to go, but for Pontefract, their hopes are effectively over and Collieries joint boss Duncan Bray added: “They were the better team in the first half and we were the better team in the second half.
“We missed a penalty and a few chances and that was the difference. From a neutral perspective I thought it was a superb advert for the NCEL. Full bloodied tackles were going in and it was two sides that wanted to win at all costs.
“I think we’re done now (for promotion). We have nine games and if we don’t win all nine then we have no chance, but I think it is important we finish as high as we can and then look to build for next season.”
Pontefract Collieries: Parry, Kamara, Corbett, Robinson, Staley, Leister (Simpson 84), Catton, Radford (captain), Wetherald, Grant, Hawthorne (Perks 84). Subs unused: Twibey, Bray, Handley.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Green, Stohrer, Fawcus, Patterson, Danville (captain), Cyrus, Barlow (Flynn 71), Swift, Frost (Reece 83), Kelsey, Baldry (Burgess 66). Subs unused: Whitehouse, Grace.
Referee: Ian Thornton
Ref rating: 4/10
Attendance: 98
Man of the match: Luke Danville (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)
Match Photos are HERE