Popular striker Liam Radford got two goals for Pontefract in the 3-0 win over Athersley
Sixteen years is a long time and that’s when Pontefract Collieries last won a Toolstation NCEL Premier Division match until last night.
Two first half goals from Liam Radford and Luke Danville set Pontefract on their way to a hard-earned 3-0 victory over Athersley Recreation at Beechnut Lane.
Radford added the icing in the final moments to enable Pontefract to celebrate their first league win since their promotion to the NCEL’s big stage.
After defeats to Armthorpe Welfare and Worksop Town in their opening matches, Pontefract were desperate to get off the mark.
Nick Handley, Duncan Bray and Russ Eagle had been pulling out the stops ahead of the visit of Athersley with the signings of Brad Riley and Jack Mawson.
Only midfielder Riley played, but he was a live-wire for Collieries and looks set to be a major player for them this season.
The chances of claiming those elusive three points looked good for Pontefract.
The Collieries were knocking on the door from the start as Danville had his header cleared off-the-line by White.
Ultimately poor defending cost Athersley. The Rec defence was playing a line far too high up and that enabled Iwan Heeley to thread a through ball to Radford, who had a simple finish for the opener.
A spree of yellow cards then suffocated the game – some were justified, others were arguably un-necessary on referee Michael Brownsett’s part. Quite how Pontefract racked up four players on cautions defies belief considering the match was played in the right spirit.
It was from a yellow card for Athersley skipper Ryan White that Pontefract killed Athersley off. Goalkeeper Richard Watson made the major mistake when the ball was dropped into the box from the free kick by fumbling with it. Danville made him pay by scoring into the empty net.
Athersley almost gave themselves a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half-time. Pontefract had young goalkeeper Ellis Halpine to thank for two magnificent stops. In quick succession, Halpine denied goal-bound efforts from Danny Joynes and Ryan Blackburn.
The first half had goals and plenty of endeavour, but the second half failed to live up to expectations.
Athersley, a side that had always prided itself on a never say die attitude, never got going.
The home side put them out of their misery late-on as Radford was able to skip past goalkeeper Watson and tap the ball home.
That rubber-stamped the fact that Pontefract are definitely back in the Premier Division.
Pontefract Collieries: Halpine, Heeley, Corbett, Danby (captain), Danville, Riley, Jerome (Williams 63), Forgione, Radford, Moxam, Whitehouse. Subs unused: Barlow, Staley, Marsden, Robinson.
Athersley Recreation: Watson, Brettner (Hydes 74), Little (Oliver 60), Blackburn, Harban, R White (captain), Scargill, A White, Joynes, C White (Jones 60), Podmore. Subs unused: Wilson, Shillito.
Referee: Michael Brownsett
Ref Rating: 6/10
Attendance: 111
Man of the match: Liam Radford (Pontefract Collieries)