It could, potentially, be a knockout for a play off place with Emley in 3rd, just 3 points ahead of Pontefract in 5th, a win for Emley will confirm their play off place, and probably confirm 3rd place, meaning a home play off semi final, a win for Ponte will see them draw level on points with Emley and 4th placed Dunston.

Pontefract will probably be favourites having won 6 and drawn 1 of their last 10, Emley's form has dropped off a proverbial cliff, without a win in 6 and only 1 win in our last 8 games, although there is hope for Emley as Colls have lost their last 2 home games, albeit against two of the form sides in Lincoln and Redcar, conceding 4 times on both occasions

Emley have been in the top 3 for most of the season but are in danger of slipping out of the play offs altogether, only needing a point on Saturday, The Pewits slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to mid table North Ferriby and have not won at home since the last day of February, our last away win was at Silsden in early March.

Emley do have the upper hand in recent contests though and a win will see us post a league double following a 4-0 thumping at the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground in November and are unbeaten in the last 3 meetings, Pontefract will want to improve on their record of having only scored once in those last 3 meetings.

Pontefract have had a good season and put a great run of form together to get themselves in with a promotion shot which would see them play at step 4 for the first time ever should they get there.

WHO ARE THEY?
Pontefract Collieries were formed in 1958 and like Emley, were founder members of the NCEL in 1982 following membership of the Yorkshire League which merged with the Midlands League and they remained members of the NCEL until promotion to the NPL following successive promotions in 2017 and 2018, the highest level the club has ever been in.

They reached the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup 5 years ago where they lost to Halifax Town after a replay and got to the 4th round of the FA Vase in 2017-18, losing to Northwich Victoria, they are nicknamed The Colls and play at Beechnut Lane, also known as The Hunters Stadium.

LAST TIME WE MET:
29th November 2025, NPL D1 E
Emley 4-0 Pontefract (Johnson, Cowgill, Thompson, Ceesay), Att-344

LAST TIME OUT:
Pontefract 2-4 Redcar Athletic (Lumsden 2), NPL D1 E, Att-548
Emley 0-2 North Ferriby, NPL D1 E, Att- 410.

HEAD TO HEAD

Last 5 Previous meetings:
[i]19th April 2025, NPL D1 East
Emley 2-1 Pontefract ( Berchil, Lawrence) Att- 528

1st October 2024, NPL D1 E,
PON 0-0 EML, Att- 271

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 (4-3 pens) (J.Coduri, A.Flynn) Att- 122/i]

(ALL COMPETITIONS)
CURRENT FORM: Last 5
PON: D, W, L, W, L
EML: D, L , D, L, L
CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION:
PON: 5/22
EML: 3/22
GOALS SCORED:
PON: 77
EML: 66
GOALS CONCEDED:
PON: 68
EML: 41
TOP SCORER:
PON: Frankie Sinfield (16)
EML: Bailey Thompson (10)
AVERAGE HOME CROWD:
PON: 333 (350 league)
EML: 422 (422 league).

MATCHDAY INFORMATION
WHEN? Friday 17th April 2026 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 £10
Concessions £7 (60+, students with valid card, blue light card holders)
Unaccompanied U16 £4
U16 with paying adult FREE