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Friday 9th September - Ashton United  0-1  Frickley Athletic

Gary Marrow was forced into a couple of changes to his side with Richard Tracey on the verge of joining Bradford Park Avenue, whilst Leroy Chambers was unavailable. Therefore, Andy Evans started a game up front with Ashley Scothern for the first time this season whilst Dean Foley and Craig Wilkinson both came onto the subs. bench.

The Blues were almost caught napping within the opening few minutes when the home side carved out an opening down their right but the final close range shot hit the side netting. However, after a slow opening the Blues started to come into the game and went close to taking the lead on 9 minutes when Martyn Woolford broke into the box and fired in a shot which forced Ashley Connor to brilliantly push the ball around the post.

Ashley Scothern then should have given the Blues the lead when he combined well with Woolford down the left to find himself clear in the box but he dragged his shot inches wide of the far post after 20 minutes. The Blues continued to enjoy much the better of the play for the rest of the half but failed to really carve out any clear opportunities.

The second half saw Evans go close on 57 minutes when his cross from the right deceived Connor and came back off the face of the crossbar before being cleared whilst, 5 minutes later, Evans, Scothern and Woolford combined for Woolford to fire just over the bar from 18 yards.

The Blues scored the all-important goal on 68 minutes. Evans was fouled 20 yards out as he bore down on goal and CALUM SELBY stepped up to curl a great free-kick into the top left hand corner of the net. The goal was no more than the Blues deserved and they twice went close to extending their lead. First Scothern picked out Woolford with a great cross-field ball for Woolford to  beat full-back James Riordan before shooting over the bar from the edge of the box. Then, with just 7 minutes of normal time left, Woolford seized on a loose ball some 25 yards out to fire in a powerful shot which grazed the top of the cross bar.

The forty or so Blues' fans had to endure a nervous last 2 minutes of stoppage time as the home side forced three corners in succession but these were dealt with adequately by a resolute Blues' defence.