Pontefract Collieries Vs Grimsby Borough: Match Preview
A look at what's in store as Borough face The Colls
Pontefract Collieries Vs Grimsby Borough: Match Preview
The Wilderness Boys head to fifth-placed Pontefract Collieries on Saturday for their latest Northern Premier League Division One East test.
The trip to The Hunters Stadium will be the first away match in charge for boss Ricky Ravenhill and his Assistant Martin Woods, and it's certainly one of the tougher challenges that their side will face during the remainder of the 2026/27 step four campaign.
However, on the back of two commanding home victories over Hallam and Ashington respectively in the new management team’s first week in charge, it's a clash they’ll go into with the belief of picking up another favourable result.
Borough have been unchanged over the two aforementioned recent successes, with the same starting XI and five substitutes named for successive matches.
That has yielded two superb team performances, with Bradley Wood and Paul Walker forming a strong partnership at the heart of the defence, supported well by full-backs Sam Topliss and Alex Graham.
Alex Flett, Josh Venney, and Harvey Cribb have looked back to their competitive best in the engine room, while Josh Clarke moving into a wider role has allowed him to impact games with his quality on the ball.
Luke Ayris (along with Clarke) scored his first Borough goal last time out, and his pace has added another dimension to the Wilderness Boys’ attacking threat since his arrival, while striker Kieron Ceesay has been unplayable of late; his pace, power, and quick feet proving too much to handle for opposing defenders.
A further pleasing aspect recently has been the impact of the substitutes, with the likes of Tristan Drummond, Jack Barlow, and Charlie Clements looking sharp when introduced from the bench.
Borough’s long-term injury absentees are unlikely to return in time for the weekend’s game, but it's hoped Tom Sawyer, AJ Adelekan, and Billy Bradley could be back soon.
Pontefract Collieries have started the season well under Manager Jimmy Williams, looking to go one better than their sixth-placed finish last time out and reach the play-offs by the campaign’s conclusion.
Having picked up 19 points from their opening 11 matches, they’ve given themselves a great platform to do that, and will be looking for another home win to further consolidate their position.
Having added the likes of ex-Cleethorpes Town defenders Jack Vann and Connor O’Grady to his ranks over the summer, Williams also turned midfielder Alfie Perry’s previous loan move from Boston United into a permanent deal. Full-back Paulo Aguas and James Morris joined from Hallam and Stocksbridge Park Steels respectively, while young attacking midfielder Alex Pavan has signed on loan from Doncaster Rovers.
As things got underway in August, Pontefract opened up their league campaign with a goalless draw at Morpeth Town, following that up with a narrow FA Trophy victory over Clitheroe and a 1-1 draw at Lincoln United.
The Colls then began to find the net with regularity, hammering Parkgate 8-0, Padiham 7-0, and Liversedge 5-0 in respective FA Cup, FA Trophy, and league matches, though there was a 3-1 NPL setback at Matlock Town sandwiched in between.
September started with Williams' men bowing out of both the FA Cup and Trophy to Ossett United and Prescot Cables, before getting back on track with a 2-1 victory against Blyth Spartans and drawing consecutive away games at Garforth Town and Beverley Town.
Despite ending the month with a 3-2 defeat at Silsden, Pontefract have won three of their last four league matches, seeing off Ossett, West Auckland Town, and Ashington, and they too head into the weekend's clash in good form, with James Morris and Elliott Walker among the goals of late.
The Colls have largely dominated the recent head-to-head record between the sides, winning six of the eight meetings since 2022. Pontefract won both of last season’s matches, but Borough will be hoping for a repeat of their 2024 visit to The Hunters Stadium, which ended in a 3-1 victory, with all the goals coming in a frantic opening half-an-hour.
A tough challenge awaits Ravenhill’s men in West Yorkshire against a side with firm promotion aspirations. However, if the Wilderness Boys can replicate their recent performances, they’ll give themselves a chance of picking up a result on the road for the second time this season.