Matt Clarke, on loan from Halifax Town, came in up front as Steve Richards made several changes which certainly paid off in a game which could easily have finished 10-6. On a very muddy pitch Frickley started well with Steve Price firing well over from 25 yards after just 7 minutes whilst at the other end Mark Wilkinson was forced to save a close range effort by Dwain Roberts three minutes later. Almost immediately Clarke broke clear for the Blues but he shot straight at the advancing keeper. Chris Hurst then had a 20 yard volley go just wide after Clarke had knocked the ball down to him before the Blues took the lead in the 15th minute. Ian Edge sent Clarke clear down the left, and he advanced towards goal before drawing the Bay keeper, Richie Roberts and squaring to the unmarked GARY DUFFTY who fired into an empty net from 8 yards. Two minutes later the visitors were presented with an opportunity to equalise when they were awarded a penalty. An angled shot by Deiniol Graham was parried by Wilkinson but the assistant referee immediately flagged for a penalty, adjudging Chris Hilton to have handled the loose ball. However, Wilkinson promptly saved his fourth penalty of the season to deny Graham.

The Blues again pressurised the Bay defence with Edge having a shot from just inside the box tipped around the post following a corner after 20 minutes and then on 25 minutes Hurst shot over form the edge of the box following good work by Duffty on the right. Then on 27 minutes Duffty sent CLARKE clear and from just inside the box he steered his shot wide of Roberts into the bottom right hand corner to put the Blues 2-0 up. On 37 minutes Bay pulled a goal back when Micky Lennon fired past Wilkinson from 15 yards after Dwain Roberts had headed on to him but the Blues almost responded immediately. Richie Roberts dropped a corner by Edge which fell to Duffty but his shot was blocked and then just before the break Dean Jones headed a cross from the left by Duffty over the bar.

The second half saw Bay come more into the game and it came as no surprise when they levelled the scores on 57 minutes. Graham received the ball on the edge of the box before turning to fire a low shot past Wilkinson into the bottom right hand corner. Two minutes later a cross by Hilton from the right was knocked back by Hurst to Clarke but he hooked his effort narrowly over the bar. Clarke then took a free-kick by Price down on the edge of the box before turning and shooting straight at Roberts before the Blues regained their lead on 65 minutes. Successive crossed from both wings by Hurst and Edge following a corner caused havoc in the Bay area and JONES pounced on a loose ball to shoot into the roof of the net from 12 yards. Price then saw a 30 yarder fly wide and at the other end Graham volleyed wide from 18 yards. The Blues fourth goal came on 73 minutes when Clarke sent EDGE clear as the Bay's defence was wide open and he bore down on goal before curling his shot past Roberts into the net. The Bay had a 20 yarder which dipped just over the bar on 74 minutes and then on 79 minutes Wilkinson was called upon to turn a 25 yard free-kick by Graham round the post. On 86 minutes quick free-kick by the Bay saw Graham put clear but Wilkinson brilliantly parried his shot and then on 89 minutes Wilkinson came to the rescue again, being forced to save with his feet from Lennon after the ball fell to him following a tackle by Price. Almost immediately McAreavey sent CLARKE clear down the left. He cut inside before beating Roberts from a narrow angle to notch the Blues fifth. Three minutes into stoppage time Clarke got his hat-trick. McAreavey chased a lost cause down the right, beating the keeper to the ball, before crossing to the far post where CLARKE headed in.

The only disappointing aspect of the match was the poor attendance. Even considering the abysmal weather 92 was a very low gate. Where were all the glory hunters who went down to Northampton last week?

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Fox (Lafferty 90), Jones, Matt Wilkinson, Hanby, Duffty (McAreavey 87), Price, Clarke, Hurst, Edge. Sub. Brookes

Colwyn Bay : R. Roberts, Tuft, Evans, D. Roberts, Caton, M. Price, Gibbons (Jones 55), G. Roberts, Graham, Lennon, McIlvogue. Subs. Lawton, Gelling

Attendance : 92