Marske dealt play-off blow as they settle for draw

MARSKE United’s hopes of a securing a play-off spot took another blow after they were held to a draw against fellow top-five contenders Pontefract Collieries.

The visitors made an impressive start to the game and took the lead on 13 minutes as Eli Hey crashed a powerful left-foot effort across goal and into the far-corner of Robert Dean’s net.

The Seasiders reacted well to falling behind and both Glen Butterworth and Matty Waters tried their luck without success. MARSKE UNITED PONTEFRACT COLLIERIES 1 1

It was the latter that finally grabbed a deserved equaliser for his side on the half-hour mark when he pounced on a rebound after Cols keeper Ryan Musslewhite had parried a long-range effort from Butterworth.

Parity remained in place until half time, but the visitors almost went back in front in the early stages of the second half.

Hey got on the end of a free-kick and flicked the ball goalwards but Seasiders keeper Dean managed to get fingertips to the effort and sent it around his far-post.

Cols defender Connor Smythe clipped the outside of the post as the visitors looked to press home their dominance as the second half wore on.

But Marske refused to be pressed into their own half and new signing Jack Blackford almost made an instant impression when he burst into the Cols half and forced Musselwhite into a simple save from his low drive.

There was one last chance for Carl Jarrett’s side to snatch the points as Waters struck an effort through a crowded area, but saw his shot cleared from the line by Smythe and that was enough to ensure that the points were shared. Marske United: Dean, Martin, Rowbotham (Brockbank), Butterworth, May, Wheatley, Fairley (Gott), Hillerby, Waters, Liddle (Blackford), Round Subs: Owens, Watson Pontefract Collieries: Musselwhite, Greenhough, Smythe, Picton, Clarke, Bailey (Brown), Cromack, Redford, Guest, Dunn (Williams), Hey (Rothery) Subs: Whitehouse, Jeffs