Pontefract Collieries (H) – Match Preview

First match of the month is soon, and as 2025 comes to a close we look to finish the year top of the table.

Our opponents for this mid-week fixture is Pontefract Collieries, who are sat 9th in the league with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. A mixed bag for the Colls so far, with the side beating the likes of Newcastle Benfield and Blyth Spartans in an FA Cup run, before ultimately losing to Lower Breck, who are currently top of the NPL West, five points ahead of recognisable outfit Bury FC.

In the league, Pontefract’s campaign has been just as much of a rollercoaster. The season started with a 2-0 win against Newton Aycliffe at home, then a 2-2 away draw against Silsden, followed by another 2-0 home win versus Consett before their 4th game being another 2-2 away draw to Lincoln United.

I normally wouldn’t highlight results this much, but 2 pairs of identical scorelines is a pretty neat trick from Pontefract. However, after that start, things became a bit more varied. Amidst a few defeats, draws and victories was one poignant scoreline, with Matlock hosting Pontefract and ultimately pummelling them 7-1.

The “hopeful” part of this, for us, is that this game was in fact Pontefract Collieries’s most recent midweek fixture. But at the same time, our last midweek fixture was that match against Bishop Auckland so…well this should be an interesting match for both sides.

Redcar however, have had a much more different season. Bar the blip against Emley, our home form has been impeccable. Most notably of the fixtures at Green Lane, is the 10-1 hammering of Silsden (Heads up: this is going to be a focal point for a lot of my reports).

Talisman Adam Boyes is still at the top of the step’s top scorer table, with the striker currently sat on 13 league goals. 2nd place Stanley Leech of Newmarket has 9, and to put into context the gulf between Boyes and Leech, there are 5 goals between the pair.

There are also 5 goals between Leech in 2nd, and Tyler Cox of Raynes Park Vale…who is 100th in the list. (Technically, Cox is on the same number of goals as 55th in the list, but still).

Boyes’ tally is so good, in fact, that counting from step 1 to step 6 he still ranks 6th.

A win against Pontefract would do us wonders, propelling us to 2nd in the league. If our opponents win, however, they would be level on points with us.

Unless something tragic happens, though, we will still be ahead of goal difference. (We are on +18, they’re on -3) ((we would need to lose by 11 goals)).

So, for a summary. Pontefract’s last midweek game was not good for them, ours wasn’t great for us, and Adam Boyes is insanely good.

That’s all from me though, hopefully I will see you at Green Lane, but if you can’t make the game then there will be live match updates on our X (Twitter) page.

Up the Steelmen!