Official Frickley Athletic Website

A vastly improved performance saw the Blues unlucky not to share the spoils with Unibond Premier Division highfliers Burscough, who hung on grimly in the closing stages.

Steve Robinson returned after suspension, while Chris Hilton was making his 300th appearance, and there was a determination and plenty of skill in their early moves, Lee Morris bringing down a high clearance from Dean Jones in the fifth minute and the ball falling to Neil Ashley who dragged his shot wide from 18 yards.

A free-kick by Steve Robinson four minutes later was collected by Martin Thacker who had a shot blocked, and the ball switched to the other end where Jon Hood comfortably held a low 20 yard drive from Kevin Ledbetter.

Frickley took the lead in the 24th minute when Farrell Kilbane slipped as he tried to clear, letting in Paul Palmer who slid a 15 yard shot underneath goalkeeper Tony MacMillan and just inside the near post.

MacMillan did well to turn a scorching 30 yard drive from Danny Walsh off target in the next minute.

A penalty put Burscough on terms in the 29th minute, Steve Robinson being judged to have held back a player, and Neil Robinson making no mistake from the spot.

The Blues forced three consecutive corners, Richard Tracey heading just wide at the far post from the last before the visitors plundered the advantage after 36 min.

Hood failed to hold a flag kick and David Roberts bundled the ball in from six yards.

Resuming in determined style, Frickley had a free-kick by Jones flicked on by Morris in the 54th minute and Tracey hit a volley which was well saved, and Walsh finished a slick move down the left with an angled 20 yard shot into the side netting after 65 minutes.

Wayne Wallace went close with a header immediately after coming on for Tracey in the 76th minute, but a mistake by Steve Robinson a minute later let in Matty McGinn, who was foiled by a point blank block from Hood, athough the ball fell to Neil Robinson, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Hilton.

An 89th minute free-kick by Thacker saw Morris and Wallace have efforts blocked with Palmer then lifting the ball over the target.

Report by Peter Jordan

Official Frickley Athletic Website

www.frickleyafc.co.uk