This game started very openly with both sides looking to create attacking opportunities.

It was Kirkheaton who took the lead with a scrappy goal, but well finished in the end by Hasan Niksic, but after that, a string Pontefract side started to take control of the game. Two quick goals saw Pontefract go ahead mid-way through the half.

It was then that Kirkheaton started to make more progress, with Amel Terzic making some good challenges in midfield, as well as showing good skill in a number of positive runs forward.

Sam Eade and Alfie Kershaw both made some good tackles to stop Pontefract scoring, and after good work by Rhys Fowler, Amel scored his first goal of the game to bring the scores level at 2-2.

Kirkheaton were now on top, playing some good football, with Louis Jackson winning some good tackles in midfield, this allowed Amel to go forward, and it wasn't long before a couple of quickfire goals from him took Kirkheaton into a 4-2 lead.

Just before the break, Pontefract strengthened their line up, bringing on most of their 'A' team players from the first game, and this was to prove a turning point in the match as they snatched a goal to make the score 4-3 to Kirkheaton at the break.

With a strengthened line up for the entire 2nd half, it was no surprise that Pontefract bossed the game from this point onwards, but to their credit, the Kirkheaton side battled hard throughout.

Will Donaghy made some excellent tackles and forward runs from deep, Sam and Alfie continued to try to keep the Pontefract forward line quiet, but 3 unanswered goals early in the half saw Pontefract race into a 6-4 lead.

Louis, Rhys and Amel worked hard to win the ball and Hasan harried the Pontefract defence where he could, but Pontefract managed to score 3 further goals before the end to make the final score 9-4 to the home team.

A tough game, but Kirkheaton never stopped battling and they will have learned a lot.