We’re going up: Pontefract Collieries celebrate after their promotion to the NCEL Premier Division was confirmed
There was a brief scare when Lincoln Moorlands Railway lost their solitary ball, but the wait is over for Pontefract Collieries.
Pontefract will play in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division next season for the first time since 2000 after a 7-0 demolition of a dreadful Lincoln side.
The victory secures a Division One promotion place and leaves them in pole position for the title with two games left.
The Colls knew a win at Lincoln would confirm their ascent and Duncan Bray and Nick Handley’s men had it sown-up by half-time with a 4-0 lead.
There is not much to actually say about the match as Ponte were camped in their host’s half for the entirety.
Pontefract goalkeeper Craig Parry might as well have been at home drinking a glass of wine, that’s how easy it was.
Parry did not have a save to make in the entire 90 minutes against a team, who he and his team-mates beat 12-2 in January.
Pontefract Collieries captain Nigel Danby (left) and joint manager Nick Handley (right) celebrate winning promotion
Match abandoned due to lack of a ball?: Nick Handley looks on shocked after Lincoln Moorlands lose their only match-ball after just five minutes which led to a long delay
When the game did restart, Mark Whitehouse set Ponte on their way to the Premier Division
In some ways the victory was an anti-climax due to their dominance. Ponte have come through some really tricky fixtures since losing to AFC Emley at the start of March.
Pontefract have gone onto to win eight and draw one of their last nine games which includes a number of hard-fought victories.
Then when the dream could become a reality, Lincoln did not even muster up a fight.
The home side have failed to fulfil a number of fixtures this season and they bizarrely only produced a single match-ball for the game which soon landed in a nearby garden within five minutes from the start.
That led to a ridiculous long delay in such a big match and the situation was only resolved because the visitors had to lend them some.
Now playing with balls that they are used to, Ponte soon added the opening goal. Moorlands goalkeeper Chris Stanley played his part by carelessly spilling a Liam Radford effort which allowed Mark Whitehouse score.
Lincoln stopper Chris Stanley is stranded as Aaron Moxam scores into the empty net
Pontefract’s travelling fans celebrate Moxam’s first goal
Moxam watches his second goal land in the net
Luke Danville adds the fourth before half-time
It was then just a case of how many. Scoring his 31st goal of the campaign, Aaron Moxam added the second with a straightforward tap-in after Whitehouse’s attempt had been cleared off-the-line.
Whitehouse was involved again for the next one with a through ball which Moxam finished off.
Defender Luke Danville scored the final goal of the opening 45 minutes – blasting home from inches out after Stanley dropped Luke Forgione’s corner.
The second half continued in the same vain and to be brutally honest, Lincoln were lucky they were not on the receiving end of a record score for an NCEL game.
Danville saw a strike ruled out for handball, while Moxam and Whitehouse both fired wide or over before the fifth goal arrived.
Matty Marsden thanks Lee Bennett after the latter’s cross helped him score Ponte’s fifth
Finally!: Josh Corbett is all smiles after scoring his first goal of the season
Craig Rouse scores Pontefract’s seventh goal
It was like park football for Pontefract’s talented attacker Lee Bennett, who has been an inspired signing.
He danced his way into the box and laid the ball back for substitute Matty Marsden to score.
The sixth goal came from a fitting source. Josh Corbett, a member of Craig Elliott’s great Glasshoughton side of 2012 which won promotion from the same Division, had yet to score in this campaign.
Every-time he got the ball, the Ponte faithful shouted ‘shoot’. He was running around like a bull in a china shop for the whole game, desperate to find the net and he eventually did with a deflected strike.
He needed the help of the post as well, but his goal received the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
Craig Rouse struck the seventh late-on to round off the victory.
There were small celebrations at the end, but the job is far from over as the title is the next aim.
Pontefract Collieries joint manager Nick Handley:
“My feelings are a little bit mixed, but I’m absolutely delighted to be confirmed as promoted because it is what we set out to do.
“Because today was such an easy game, it takes a little bit off it. The lads did not have to get out of first gear, but we still got a comfortable win.
“Lincoln never offered anything and I don’t think they had a shot on goal. You could see that they are a side that are struggling.
“Credit to our lads because it is not easy to motivate lads in that kind of game.
“We’ll go on and try be champions, it is as simple as that. We can ease off in terms of pressure and say ‘let’s enjoy it and try to become the champions’.”
Pontefract Collieries goalkeeper Craig Parry:
“After all the hard work all season it means a lot, but we still have to finish the job by finishing top of the league.
“We have a good set of lads, the spirit is good. We play a certain way and it seems to work.
“The main thing is that we have a really good team spirit and a good bond and that alone wins you points. It wasn’t an anti-climax because no-matter who is in front of you, you still have to win.
“Look at our recent home game against Grimsby where we found ourselves behind. You have to take it seriously and play the way we do.”
On the game: “I was really bored. I think I only had four touches. It came to the 80th minute and our centre-half Nige Danby came running to me wanting to go in goal for the last ten minutes.
“That’s true, but we had to take it seriously and do the job.”
Lincoln Moorlands Railway: Stanley, Radford, Grocock, Hindmarsh, Moody, Omelia, Gregory, Wilson, Ringham, Parker, Reeve. Subs: Parkinson, Rowe.
Pontefract Collieries: Parry, Heeley (Lindley 52), Corbett, Danby (captain), Danville, Forgione, Joseph, Radford (Rouse 52), Moxam, Whitehouse (Bennett 49). Subs unused: Robinson, Hayton.
Referee: D McGinley
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 48
Man of the match: Josh Corbett (Pontefract Collieries)