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It was the short trip to St Giles Road for

Saturday 24th October 2020
NPL Division 1 NW
Brighouse Town   2   v   0   Pontefract Collieries
Simon Kells (Manchester); Joshua Martin, Kevin O'Donnell.

The disruption this year has obviously left Mr Kells confused as to the date. His memo to his assistants to appear with close-cropped hair was an April Fool prank, as he retained his Jeanie-like smart coiffure. Six weeks earlier he had been seen at Ashton United, in a game where he had put in a decent shift, with correct decisions, but with slight reservations about whether he projected an air of confidence and authority. Not a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then (most of it has continued to come through JCFC's kitchen roof!) but he did look much more at home on this occasion, with long sleeves adding an authoritative note. His fitness is excellent - always the third man in any chase, in a way reminiscent of Darren England a decade ago, and never far from play. A couple of decisions were possibly debatable - a Pontefract corner given as a goal-kick to Brighouse, and a free-kick against the home right back for what appeared a perfect header - but again, most were very sound, and largely accepted as such.

As to the match, Brighouse took an early lead as a defender deflected the ball to the home number 10, who prodded, rather than struck, it home from 15 yards. A reckless challenge by the home number 11 earned him a long lecture and a yellow card on 13 minutes. On 26 minutes two committed players converged at speed,   and the Brighouse number 2 was just second, receiving a yellow card in turn. Town were doing the bulk of the attacking, having a shot which just cleared the bar and on 38 minutes they hit the bar, the ball bouncing down and out. The rebound was collected and not immediately buried, but it was only a matter of seconds before Town scored again. Colls did pose an occasional threat and just before the break had a strong shot on target blocked.

Ponte rejigged the side somewhat, the big number 5 moving forward, and came back into the game, benefiting from one good advantage call, but their best effort was a header wide of the target. Around three-quarter time Brighouse enjoyed a good spell, but they too put a chance wide. There was a yellow card for the Ponte number 3 for a scything tackle to end a good Town move on 84 minutes. The Brighouse card-collecter was possibly feeling neglected as he eventually picked up his yellow - the foul was a mundane one and the card seemed something of an afterthought, so he probably talked his way into it. Brighouse  had a good surging run, but the keeper's legs got the ball out for a corner. Three minutes into added time there was a contretemps in the far corner. Mr Kells was very quickly in to prevent escalation and there followed a period of exchange of views. At the end of this, Mr Martin, who had sidled down the touchline pointed the finger at the Ponte number 16, who received a yellow card. If Mutn3 missed three goals in his match, he at least had the (pitiful!) excuse of having fled the scene to escape the Derbyshire deluge. JCFC had no such excuse for his failure to spot that the Brighouse sub, returning from suspension for his dismissal some weeks ago, had been shown a red card in that late incident, a fact only discovered from Brighouse Town twitter. Must do better, JCFC!

Their first win of the season enabled Brighouse to leap from 19th (and bottom) to 16th in the table, Pontefract now occupying the 19th spot.