Northern Premier League D1 East league leaders Emley make the short journey to Pontefract on Tuesday as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season with a game against Pontefract Collieries (7.45pm).

It will be first meeting of the sides since 2017 when both sides were regular opponents in the Northern Counties East before Ponte's rise up the NPL.

Perhaps the sides are best remembered for the dramatic promotion battle in the 2016/17 season when Emley were pipped for promotion from NCEL D1, first by Hall Road who eventually won the league and then by Pontefract, who finished second courtesy of scoring 3 more goals, Pontefract actually beat Emley by +4 in their 2 games thus, sneaking promotion instead of the Pewits.

There was 1 point that separated all 3 teams at the end of the season and Pontefract did the double over the Pewits, although Emley are unbeaten in the 7 games before that league double, including a league cup win on penalties in the same season.

Pontefract Collieries were formed in 1958 and like Emley, were founder members of the NCEL in 1982, and were members of the NCEL until promotion to the NPL in 2017.

Following Saturday's impressive 4-0 away win, Emley are top of the NPL D1 East by a point from Belper Town who we have already beaten and Pontefract are lying 13th following Saturday's home defeat to Carlton Town.

A win for Emley would see them clear at the top as none of the teams directly below them are playing until the weekend, but they will want to keep up their impressive record of 6 wins and a draw, however, it's still early days.

Last time out:
Pontefract 0-2 Carlton Town, Att 246, NPL D1 East
Bishop Auckland 0-4 Emley (Berchil 3, Baldwin) Att- 363, NPL D1 East.

HEAD TO HEAD

Previous meetings: last 5
28th January 2017, NCEL D1
PON 4-2 EML (L.Schofield, S.Jerome) Att- 180

31st August 2016, NCEL D1
EML 3-5 PON (J.Coduri, A.Flynn, K.Ryan) Att- 184

10th August 2016, NCEL LC1
EML 2-2 PON (4-3pens) (J.Coduri, A.Flynn) Att- 122

7th March 2015, NCEL D1
EML 1-0 PON (R.Jerome) Att 221

14th January 2015, NCEL D1
PON 0-0 EML Att- 128

CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
EML: 1/22
PON: 13/22
(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM:
EML: W, W, L , W, W
PON: W, D, D, L, L
GOALS SCORED:
EML: 26
PON: 15
GOALS CONCEDED:
EML: 7
PON: 17
TOP SCORER:
EML: Amir Berchil (9)
PON: Jack Boyle (5)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
EML: 379 (477 league)
PON: 283 ( 287 league)

MATCHDAY INFORMATION
WHEN? Tuesday 1st October, 7.45pm

WHERE?
The Hunters Stadium
Beechnut Lane, Pontefract, WF8 4FU

HOW DO WE GET THERE?
M62 to J32, follow Pontefract A639, passing racecourse on your right, over roundabout and past the retail park and take next left into Beechnut Lane for ground and parking.
Alternatively, from Wakefield, follow Doncaster Road A645 through Sharlston, Featherstone and then turn left onto A639 at Pontefract, there is no right turn into Beechnut Lane from this direction so continue to the roundabout/retail park then as above.

Public Transport: Pontefract Tanshelf station, trains from Leeds and Wakefield.

OWW MUCH?
Adult £9
Concession Over 65s £6
Under 16s £3