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Monday 26th August 2002 - Accrington Stanley 2-1 Frickley Athletic

Without the injured Craig Elkin, Jon Wordsworth and Ryan Williams and the suspended Antony Jackson Phil Sharpe included Remo Nesa from the start but he was only able to name 2 substitutes after Andy Evans decided he wants to play for the club again but signed his registration form too late to play today.

The some side took the game to Frickley straight from the kick off and within three minutes they were awarded a rather harsh penalty when Lutel James got the better of Pete Myers and Nesa down the left and cut inside before shooting goalwards. His powerful shot struck Craig Marsh on the arm as he turned away and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. James stepped up to take the penalty but Mark Wilkinson blocked his low effort with his legs only for former Emley and Bradford Park Avenue winger Dean Calcutt to follow up and score. James looked lively every time he got the ball but Marsh and Paul Marquis soon started to track him well. On 16 minutes Frickley created a half chance for David Jones when Mark Hancock's quick free-kick was sent long by Chris Gowen towards Jones who got too it before the out-rushing Stanley 'keeper Jamie Speare but he could only loft the ball into the air and Speare collected at the second attempt. Two minutes later Lee Morris headed wide of the right hand post from a good cross by Gowen as Frickley started to get into the game. At the other end Wilkinson had to be alert to save a header by Paul Mullin whilst Frickley responded with Gowen putting a 25 yard free-kick a foot over the bar. But, a little against the run of play, Stanley increased their lead. James again did well, this time down the right as he got clear of Marsh who looked to have beaten him once but James' pace took him clear for him to send over and inviting cross for Calcutt to tap in at the far post on 34 minutes. Three minutes later it could have been 3-0 as James broke clear to lift the ball over the advancing Wilkinson but Marquis got back to clear the danger. Then, on 40 minutes, Frickley got a richly deserved goal. Hancock played the ball in to Jones inside the box who laid it off to Gowen on the left. His cross was deflected clear to HANCOCK who hit a cracking first time volley into the bottom left hand corner.

Shortly after the interval Stanley's Smith should have scored when Wilkinson did well to block a close range effort from Russell Payne and the ball fell invitingly for Smith, just a few yards out, but he somehow blasted over the bar. On the hour Nesa had a strong run at the Accrington defence before setting up Mark Hine but his 25 yard shot went over the bar. Ten minutes later Paul burke was pulled back as he tried to break free 25 yards out but Gowen's free-kick hit the outside of the near post. Stanley threatened only spasmodically for the rest of the game but Frickley were unable to turn their possession into goals. 

Both Paul Marquis and Craig Marsh in particular did well at the heart of the defence and Marsh could count himself unlucky to be involved in both of Stanley's goals as other wise he kept Stanley's lively forwards quiet.

Frickley Athletic : Wilkinson, Myers, Gowen, Hine, Marsh, Marquis, Hancock, Jones, Burke, Morris (Sharpe 79), Nesa (Peel 90). 

Attendance : (An imaginative) 936   

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