Hemsworth Miners Welfare celebrate Nick Guest’s opening goal in the 3-1 win at Pontefract Collieries
Hemsworth Miners Welfare maintained their excellent form with a comfortable 3-1 win at fellow high-flyers Pontefract Collieries.
The Toolstation NCEL Division One victory at Beechnut Lane has put fifth-placed Hemsworth one point behind Pontefract and five off table toppers AFC Emley.
Wayne Benn’s young charges deserved the three points against an under-par Pontefract side, who had only conceded nine league goals going into the local derby.
It was the meeting of two of Division One’s form teams. Hemsworth had won three and drawn two of their last five, while Collieries had won four and lost one in the same number of games.
Ultimately Pontefract are unable to show the type of quality that recently won them games with other big hitters like Clipstone and Bottesford Town.
Hemsworth were solid from back to front. The defence comprising of Rob Tonks, Cameron Clark, Harry Viggars and Jack Steers were excellent and going forward, Hemsworth were dangerous.
Reece Hicks looks to create an attack for Pontefract
Hemsworth Miners Welfare centre-back Jack Steers had a key role in two of his side’s goals
Jack Steers flicks the ball into the net for Hemsworth’s second goal
Nash Connolly jumps on Jack Steers after the second goal
Pontefract goalkeeper Sam Andrew cannot stop Nash Connolly’s free kick from going straight into the net
Their top goal-scorer Nick Guest opened the door with the deadlock breaker midway through the first half.
Guest, who has already hit 16 goals this season, showed excellent composure to fire a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Pontefract complained about handball, but referee Jamie Waters wasn’t interested and Liam Radford and Josh Corbett were cautioned for leading the protests.
Hemsworth goalkeeper Jack Bentley ensured that his side stayed in front with a fine save on the stroke of half-time.
Bentley somehow managed to push former Glasshoughton defender Corbett’s header onto the post and the save proved important.
Almost straight from the start of the second half, Hemsworth added a second. A foul by Pontefract captain Nigel Danby brought a free kick on the left-wing.
Nash Connellly whipped the ball in towards the six-yard box and Jack Steers, who had made an excellent run across the penalty area, managed to get a good connection on it with his head to leave goalkeeper Sam Andrew stranded.
Pontefract quickly gained a lifeline through a Tom Copping header at the back-post, but the opportunity to mount a comeback disappeared within minutes.
The third Hemsworth goal was an almost replica of the second. Connolly planted the ball in a similar area and Steers made the same run without being picked up by a Collieries defender.
The only difference? Steers was unable to get a touch and the ball squirmed under the legs of Andrew and into the net.
Hemsworth’s win makes it even more interesting at the top.
Pontefract Collieries joint manager Duncan Bray:
“They were the better side and we were poor.
“They looked stronger than us and we were a bit slow at the start and we never got going.
“It looked an handball for the first goal, but in fairness we still had to score a couple more. It wasn’t the only thing in the game that decided it.
“Even then they were still a yard sharper than us and they deserved it.
“We weren’t at the races. We just said in the dressing room that in the last four games we have really set our standards high and today we were nowhere near good enough.”
Hemsworth Miners Welfare manager Wayne Benn:
“I don’t think it was one of our better performances in terms of the way we passed, but we have done today is we have stood up and scrapped and battled.
“In the two games we have lost this season, it has been that what has caused us issues.
“I thought we were absolutely magnificent from start to finish.
“I don’t think we were ever going to get into our fluent passing game on a pitch that is bumpy, bobbly and heavy so we had to change the way we play a little bit.
“Ponte have been on a really good run with four straight wins, but that’s seven now unbeaten (for us) in the league and we’re doing well with such a young group.
“They’re doing well. We’re dropping some silly points now and then, but if they believe in themselves like I believe in them then they can do whatever they want to do this season.”
Pontefract Collieries: Andrew, C Robinson (Marsden 65), Corbett, Danby (captain), Copping, Joseph (Swift 79), Catton (Heeley 65) Hicks, Radford, Wharam, Whitehouse. Subs unused: A Robinson, Kamara.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare: Bentley, Tonks, Clark, Crapper, Viggars, Steers, Connolly, Yates (captain) (Dixon 34), Guest, Hayward (Blair 65), Wilson (Whitehead 75). Sub unused: Pugh.
Referee: Jamie Waters
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 103
Man of the match: Nick Guest (Hemsworth Miners Welfare)
All the match photos will be uploaded to our Facebook page at 12pm.
You will be able to read the further thoughts of Duncan Bray and Wayne Benn on Monday evening and on Friday morning.