Brighouse Town bounced back on Monday night in sensational style after eight games without a win to beat fifth-placed Pontefract Collieries 6-0 in the rearranged game.
Their dismal form since their 3-0 September 24 victory over Shildon had seen them drop from fourth in the table to third from bottom of the 20 clubs in the NPL East Division after last Saturday’s narrow and much improved 2-1 defeat to third-placed Cleethorpes Town.
In the game with the Owls from the Lincolnshire coast Town survived the ball going in the net on 30 minutes from Jordan Cooke header for an offside flag but two minutes later they went 1-0 down to a Curtis Bateson goal. Town keeper Jamie Hassall was chipped by Jack McMenemy, but he just managed to flick it on to the bar, however from the rebound Bateson hit the ball into the net.
From a corner on half-time Javelle Clarke managed to backheel an equaliser for Town in a busy goalmouth.
In the second half Town, with debutant winger Jack Wilson from Bradford City on view, played some very good football and deserved at least a point from the entertaining game with the high-flying visitors.
However once piece of slack defending on the left of goal in the 79th minute allowed Paul Walker to stride in on the angle and deliver a hard shot beyond the reach of Hassall.
Town had strong claims for a penalty when Corey Gregory was pushed over in the box, but referee Matt McQuillan waved them away and the winless run continued.
Different story two days later when, in the re-arranged game with Pontefract Collieries, Town were out of the traps like greyhounds and had two goals in the net after just five minutes to leave the 378-crowd stunned.
Corey Gregory grabbed the first on two minutes and the second was steered home by Josh Dacre in the fifth minute.
Pontefract didn’t lie down in what was a feisty derby game and they did have a goal ruled out for offside.
Town made it 3-0 after 40 minutes when keeper Jamie Hassall, who had a fine game, kicked out from his own box and found wideman Javelle Clarke in the centre forward position and he beat his defender and then went on goal to also beat visiting keeper Lloyd Allinson.
Town left the pitch to a roaring ovation and returned 15 minutes later to take up the baton again and attack their visitors with real skill and determination.
The back four of Mohammed Ibrahim, Sam Reed, Matthew Nebard and Josh Dacre were in fine form throughout and with midfielders Sam Drake and skipper Tom Haigh taking the side forward it wasn’t long before the fourth goal came. Jack Normanton came in from the right and whipped a ball into the six-yard box and it was meat and drink for the returning striker Laurence Sorhaindo who scooped it over keeper Lloyd Allinson on the floor, but in the scramble assistant referee Ian Thornton had to help Oldham referee Paul Roots be assured it was over the line.
The goal fest wasn’t over as in the 81st minute Jack Boyle grabbed his first goal since that Shildon game after he was played in with a fine ball by Normanton.
The latter, who had a blistering game, was also on the goal sheet three minutes later when he came thundering into the box and crashed his shot wide of Allinson to the sheer delight of the crowd.
Manger Vill Powell was delighted with the performance and along with his assistant Stacy Reed hopes that it is the start of a good run to put them back in the upper echelons of the table. This commences on Saturday with the visit of Derbyshire club Long Eaton United (3.0pm) who are 17th in the table.
In the meantime, utility player Josh Grant has returned to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium following his transfer last Friday from Tadcaster Albion.
There was a collection at the ground for the Pontefract keeper Lloyd Allinson who was badly injured in the abandoned October 4 game, and it raised £250.
