After a torrential 48 hours of rain, Friday night’s trip to Hallam FC was in serious doubt. But on arrival in South Yorkshire, the famous Sandygate surface – the oldest football ground in the world – was in surprisingly good condition, despite the relentless downpour.
Playing downhill in the first half, Pontefract grew into the game after a competitive opening spell where Hallam snatched at a couple of half chances. As Wilson and Modest began to find pockets of space out wide, Colls took control of the midfield battle.
The breakthrough arrived through a smart move down the right. A sharp one-two between Jack Wilson and Joe Lumsden sent the striker through, and he made no mistake, firing neatly inside the near post. Lumsden continued to cause problems, glancing a header wide and hitting the side-netting as Ponte pressed for a second.
There was no let up in the weather after the interval, and with Colls now playing uphill, Hallam looked to counter quickly. Despite Pontefract controlling possession, it was the hosts who struck next. A Colls corner broke down, and after a loose touch in transition, Hallam countered with pace, allowing Brodie Litchfield a simple tap in and level.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but on a night dominated by relentless rain and difficult conditions, the points were ultimately shared.
Player of the Match: Simon Jakab – outstanding in midfield, breaking up play, recycling possession, and setting the tempo throughout.