In a poor game of few chances at either end the Blues gained their first away league victory of the season courtesy of a goal by Graham Lewis just before half time. Steve Richards brought in Mark Ogley from Stalybridge Celtic to join Dean Jones and Matthew Wilkinson at the heart of the Blues defence and dropped Chris Hilton, replacing him with Andy Gregory as a right wing back.

The only real chance of the game up until the Blues' goal came from Chris Hurst on 8 minutes when he headed narrowly over the bar following a free-kick on the right by Steve Price. Bamber only rarely threatened and when they did it was only with a couple of long range efforts which didn't trouble Andy Carney at all. The all important goal came on 43 minutes when Gregory sent a perfect ball forward for LEWIS to nip between two defenders and prod the ball past the onrushing 'keeper.

The second half saw the game continue to be a scrappy affair although Lewis went close to adding a second on 66 minutes when he headed a free-kick by Price just wide of the far post. The last fifteen minutes saw the home side throw caution to the wind in their push for an equaliser with Carney being forced to tip over an overhead kick and the resulting corner was headed just over the bar. Then, two minutes into injury time, it was hearts in mouths time as the hosts hit the crossbar with a header following a cross from the right and forced a couple of corners which, thankfully were dealt with.

The game as a whole was far from being a spectacle (The highlight was when the wood yard next to the ground caught fire with around 15 minutes to go!) but at least the Blues managed to get the all important three points.

Frickley Athletic : Carney, Gregory (Brown 82), Matt. Wilkinson, Jones, Ogley, Hanby, Lewis (Duffty 86), Price, Chambers, Hurst, Stratford. Unused sub. Edge