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Saturday 25th January - Chairman's Cup Quarter Final

Blyth Spartans 3-0 Frickley Athletic

A virtually unrecognisable Blues' side went out of the Chairman's Cup after Blyth virtually settled the tie with three first half goals. Already without the suspended Duncan Richards, Antony Jackson, Paul Marquis and Steve Woolford, the Blues were also without the injured Mark Hancock and Craig Elkin whilst Ossett Town recalled loanee Craig Boardman without him playing a competitive game. In came Steve Robinson, a local lad from Upton, Wayne Noteman (who played for the Blues in their Gola League days and has recently been at Goole), Phil Sharpe, the returning Gary Hatto, Martin Regan (ex Farsley Celtic) and Richard Bywater (the Chairman's 16-year old son who has been having trials at Exeter City). Noteman, Sharpe and Robinson formed the Blues' defence with Reece and Gowen playing as wing-backs. Morris, Nesa and Hatto were the midfield three with Newton and Bernard up front.

Playing in blustery conditions, the Blues went behind following the first attempt at goal from either side. Blyth were awarded a free-kick to the left of the Blues' box which was whipped in by Gareth Williams. The ball somehow found its way through the crowded penalty area and hit the far post before bobbling over the line with Mark Samways nowhere near it. The makeshift Blues struggled to exert any authority on the game although Curtis Bernard turned well in the box on 23 minutes before having his angled 12 yard shot palmed away by Phil Nesbitt. The home side increased their lead ten minutes later when Scott Emerson scored at the second attempt from close range following a cross from the right. Bernard then found space in the Blyth box, to the right of goal, before sliding the ball past Naisbitt and across the face of goal where Gary Hatto came in only for a defender to slide in and block on the line. The miss proved costly as ton 40 minutes Sharpe was adjudged to have handled in the box and Glen Robson scored from the resulting penalty. Within a minute the home side were reduced to ten men when Steven Stewart was sent off following a lunge on Lee Morris which resulted in his second yellow card of the game.

The Blues started the second half with more purpose than they did in the first and had a very strong case for a penalty turned down within forty seconds of the restart when Hatto was pushed to the ground by a defender but the referee wasn't impressed. On 51 minutes Chris Newton and Bernard combined for the latter to feed the on rushing Remo Nesa who broke into the box but Naisbett deflected his shot over the bar with his legs. Just minutes later a good run by Nesa led to Hatto laying the ball into the path of Bernard whose shot was blocked by Naisbett. Nesa then shrugged off a couple of challenges before letting fly from 25 yards but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar with Naisbett beaten. On 67 minutes the impressive Bernard saw yet another shot beaten away by Naisbett whilst on 75 minutes Samways pulled off a good save to push an 18 yard shot from Robson round the post.

Given the side the Sharpe had available the result was, perhaps, unsurprising but, despite the Cup exit, at least three of the missing players will be available next week with Woolford, Jackson and Richards all having completed their suspensions, whilst Marquis must serve one more. Hopefully, Hancock will be fit but, unfortunately, Elkin looks like being out for the rest of the season.

Frickley Athletic : Samways, Reece, Gowen, Robinson, Noteman, Sharpe, Morris, Nesa (Bywater 85) , Bernard, Newton (Regan 64), Hatto. Unused sub. O'Brien

Attendance : 277 

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