Today United travelled across the water to play the return match against Winlaton Vulcans who came out on top in amazing encounter at Pont back in Aug. That day Vulcans were leading 5 – 0 ten minutes into the second half before Pont scored three in a six minute spell in the second half to reduce the deficit and had further chances to level.

Although in good form Pont were without regulars Little, Bewley Z, Turnbull and Collins and a close contest was envisaged against the high scoring hosts.

The pitch was dry but the players faced a strong blustery wind which was expected to get worse during the game and would make conditions difficult for both sides.

Pont started brightly and had a free kick on the edge of the area which was headed behind for a corner. Bewley the younger was looking dangerous down the left and hit a powerful shot from distance but it cleared the cross bar without troubling the keeper. Both teams looked up for the challenge with a determination to overcome the conditions. On ten minutes the home side had a corner which was played short to the edge of the penalty area but the incoming cross was cleared comfortable up field by Pont. On 15 minutes Pont took the lead. Full back Rawlinson made a terrific run down the left before crossing into the middle for Cook to finish running in at the back post from the right. Three minutes later Pont doubled their lead. This time it was Bewley with a lung bursting box to box run which finished with him being inside the the Vulcans penalty area before he was eventully fouled for a penalty. He got up and smashed his penalty past keeper Keiron Priestley. The referee wanted the kick to be re taken and undeterred by the delay Bewley replicated his first spot kick with similar precision and power.

In the next two minutes Vulcans came back strongly with an interchange of passes in and around the penalty area. Pont’s Short looked to anticipate and intercept a pass but was slightly late and caught his man for another penalty. Experienced midfielder Derek Waters side footed the ball into the keepers bottom left hand corner. With three goals in the opening twenty minutes one wondered whether spectators were in for another goal fest

The set back however didn’t deter Pont as they continued to press forward. Rawlinson found his cross from the left collected by the keeper under his crossbar and the keeper was in the right position to collect a thirty yard free kick from the same player after Bewley had been impeded. With Brooks and Hibbitt driving Pont forward from midfield the visitors were having a good half Brooks battled for the ball and won a free kick some 25 yards from goal. He took the kick himself but his powerful shot was straight at the keeper. With half time approaching Cook beat his man on the right and squared the ball to Calvert in a great position in front of goal but the teenagers shot drifted wide of the far post.

Half time with Pont deservedly in front but all to play for in the second half as the wind got stronger.

Second half started with the Vulcans having early pressure in the first fifteen minutes as they strived to get back on level terms. However the hardworking Bewley capitalised on a defensive lapse, robbed his man and advanced into the penalty area but was thwarted by an excellent recovery tackle by Jack Moulding. At the other end Anderson kept Pont’s lead in tact with a diving save from a corner and was supported by his defenders throwing bodies on the line to frustrate the Vulcans.

With twenty minutes to go Pont had weathered the storm. Rawlinson not for the first time this afternoon came out of defence with the ball and a strong run took him to the half way line before he was fouled. Manager, McIvor was a tower of strength at the back and he too advanced to play a ball down the line to Havelock-Brown whose cross from the by line was almost headed into his own goal by a recovering defender. Ethan Bewley displayed the spirit of Pont on the left by persistently tracking back to deny the home side from advancing down their right. With five minutes remaining Sean Best got down the left and won a free kick.The delivery by Moulding was cleared by Pont for a corner which came to nothing as the ball was headed wide. From Anderson’s long goal kick Cook did well to collect and protect the ball before running into space beyond the last man. The striker was unlucky and disappointed to see his shot just clear the bar. Shortly afterwards with Winlaton pushing forward Bewley got clear again on the left. He outpaced his man and played the ball square into the path of the normally reliable Calvert in centre of goal to make the game safe but he was denied by the keeper.

It didn’t matter though as the ref blew his whistle to end an excellent game of football in awful blustery conditions. There were some tired legs at the end but Pont to a man had put their heart, soul and desire into their game and deservedly came back across the river with all three points.