Official Frickley Athletic Website 

After the euphoria of Tuesday evening's win over Gainsborough Trinity the Blues were brought back down to earth at the Horsfall Stadium after giving a display lacking in effort and commitment. And this was from the same eleven players that played so well and with so much commitment against Gainsborough.

The Blues had the first effort at goal with Simon Collins putting a 22 yard free-kick into the side netting after Sinisa Savic had been fouled in the fourth minute. Former Blues favourite Andy Hayward then sliced a shot wide of Mark Wilkinson's left hand post as a cross from the left was allowed to clear the Blues defence and on 15 minutes Wilkinson saved an 18 yard shot from Nazha. Two minutes later Savic should have given the Blues the lead when he brilliantly turned Mick Thompson some 40 yards out and ran into the box but his shot, with defenders pressuring him, went wide of the right hand post. The home side then began to force the pace and on 28 minutes Wilkinson pulled off a great save from close range but from the clearance up field the ball as returned to the danger area via a flick on to Nazha who scored. The Blues had a let off on 37 minutes when a Bradford forward managed to scoop over an open goal whilst on 39 minutes Andy Evans got a head to a free-kick from the left by Steve Price but his effort went wide. A minute later Savic broke down the left, turned back into the box and shot wide across goal and then just before half time Collins lost the ball down the right leaving the Bradford player to advance on goal but this shot was deflected over the bar.

The second half got even worse as on 54 minutes Dean Jones was adjudged to have held down a Bradford forward in the box leaving Martin James to send Wilkinson the wrong way from the penalty spot. The Blues did manage to respond and force a bit of pressure but a combination of good defending and bad passing prevented any good chances from being created. Then on 67 minutes, looking well offside, Jason Maxwell broke clear with Mark Ogley giving up the ghost and letting him go. As he tried to take the ball round Wilkinson, the keeper brought him down with the referee immediately pointing to the penalty spot and awarding Wilkinson a yellow card for his efforts. James again sent Wilkinson the wrong way from the spot. Collins then put a dipping 25 yard free-kick narrowly over the bar as the Blues looked to at leas get a consolation goal. Craig Marsh was brought on in place of Graham Lewis but the Blues last effort of note came in the 80th minute when Gary Duffty sent over a cross from the right which Carl Fothergill headed goalwards, forcing Gavin Kelly to pull off a great save and he then recovered to push the ball away when Price returned it.

All in all a very disappointing performance, especially as the same eleven players showed on Tuesday how well they can play. Next Saturday's rearranged home game against Hyde United is now even more important.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Collins, Gowan, Hanby, Ogley, Jones, Lewis (Marsh 79), Price, Evans, Savic (Duffty 64), Fothergill (Foot 88)

Attendance : 325

Referee : Mr. G. W. Foulkes