Pontefract Collieries boss Jimmy Williams admits side lacked a ‘spark’ in goalless draw

Colls came back from the north east with a point against opponents battling to avoid relegation after a goalless draw made it four games unbeaten.

They have only lost one of their last 16 league games and remain in fourth place in the table, four points clear of Bradford (Park Avenue) in sixth with all the play-off contenders having six games remaining this season.

Ponte had chances to win at Ashington, but were unable to break the deadlock as were their opponents despite plenty of endeavour from both teams.

"We probably edged it possession-wise and territory, but we probably didn’t do enough to win the game,” said manager Williams.

“It was a bit of a lack lustre performance. I’m not sure why, but we just lacked that spark to get us a goal.

"We’re going to take the positives out of it, clean sheet, a point away from home in the north east and we move on.

"We looked a tired bunch, I don’t know whether playing the last two or three midweeks has caught up with us. But we will prepare well this week, we’ll have a good week of training and look forward to another massive game next Saturday."

Colls travel to the north east again on Saturday when they play ninth-placed Consett, who look set to fall short of the play-off places but have had a decent campaign.

"It will be a different game,” added Williams. “It’s on a 4G pitch, which we are used to at home, and we’ll go there confident.

"Consett have been a bit up and down and in mid-table. They are probably not playing for anything, which could go two ways. It could be a difficult place or it could be on the beach, we’ll have to see.

"We’ve got to concentrate on ourselves obviously.

"Looking at the other results nothing was lost, nothing’s been gained. There’s six games to go and we’ve just got to keep doing it.”