Pontefract Collieries are up to fourth place in the NPL East after a great week with back to back victories.

Jimmy Williams’ men followed up a 2-1 home win in midweek against Consett with a 3-0 success on the road at Hallam and climbed the table to be within seven points of leaders Bradford (Park Avenue) as well as sit comfortably in the play-off places.

On their trip to South Yorkshire Colls were given a flying start when ahead after 10 minutes, James Morris netting from close range after the home keeper could not collect cleanly.

It stayed 1-0 to half-time with the extremely wet and windy conditions making it difficult for either side to play their best football.

Alex Pavan was on target in Pontefract Collieries' games against Consett and Hallam.

placeholder image — Alex Pavan was on target in Pontefract Collieries' games against Consett and Hallam.

Coming down the Sandygate hill in the second half, Ponte doubled their lead when Alex Pavan finished off a smart counter attacking move.

And they made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute with Joe Lumsden setting Morris up for his second goal of the day.

Victory was the team’s fifth in their last six league matches and they take an unbeaten run of seven into Tuesday night’s home game with North Ferriby.

They are then at home again to Heaton Stannington on Saturday.

Colls will be pleased to have come through a testing month well after facing three games every week.

Their midweek matches are over for a while, but in their game last Tuesday they were able to beat Consett with Pavan scoring after just two minutes and Morris making it two in the 27th minute.

Although the visitors pulled a goal back in the last 10 minutes Ponte were good value for their victory.

"They were probably the best footballing side we’ve played this year and created a few good chances, but having said that we created quite a few good chances as well and overall we were definitely the better team,” said manager Williams.

"It was a big, big three points because Consett are a good outfit.

"At 2-0 at half-time it was about managing the game and even though we lost the second half 1-0 we created a lot of chances and should have killed the game off.

"If it goes 3-0 it probably finishes four or five, but we couldn’t get that third goal. But at the end of the day it was three points against a good outfit and you take that all day long.”