Leaders suffer heavy home loss
Top-of-the-table Rainworth Welfare lost 5-0 to third-placed Pontefract Collieries in the match of the day in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division '” and had a player sent off.
For the opening five minutes Rainworth were on the front foot. Danny Booth set up Bryan Dakouri and his goal-bound shot was deflected for a corner before Shaquille McKenzie brought a full stretch save out of Ryan Musselwhite.
But in the fifth minute a long throw into the area was headed out to Marcel Chigamura, whose shot went through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner for the visitors’ opener.
From Pontefract’s second attack Julian Lawrence deflected in a second at a corner.
Substitute Sam Bebbington’s effort was kicked off the line and at the start of the second period Julian Lawrence was just wide with a header.
Rainworth again went close when the keeper saved Ludlum’s powerful header.
Kane Reece beat Ben Townsend to make it 3-0 to end Rainworth’s hopes of a fightback.
Pontefract added further goals either side of Lawrence’s red card for an alleged stamp.