Pontefract Collieries produced a clinical performance to see off out-of-form Silsden in a festive West Yorkshire clash, securing all three points with a composed and controlled 3-0 home win.
The opening exchanges were tight, with both sides battling for midfield supremacy and chances at a premium. However, it was The Colls who struck first. A neat through ball courtesy of Frankie Sinfield split the Silsden defence, and Niah Payne showed great awareness to stay onside before turning sharply and firing confidently into the net to give The Colls the lead.
That opener settled Ponte, and it wasn’t long before the advantage was doubled. From a well organised set-piece situation, Ben Middleton was left completely unmarked inside the six-yard box and made no mistake, powering a header home to register his first goal for the club.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Colls managing the game well and limiting Silsden to very little in attack. Any lingering doubt was removed early after the restart. A superb switch of play from Alfie Perry caught the visitors napping, and arriving perfectly on cue was Frankie Sinfield, who volleyed home with real quality to make it three.
Pontefract saw the game out professionally and could have even widened the margin, but were pleased to take a clean sheet and add another three points to the tally.
Player of the Match: Ben Middleton — excellent at both ends of the pitch and crowned with a first goal in Colls colours.