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The Blues recorded a much needed victory over relegation-haunted Colwyn Bay to all but guarantee UniBond Premier Division football next season. The win was well deserved but chances were missed by both sides which could have seen the final score somewhere in the region of 5-3.

Rob Hanby made a welcome return after suspension to bolster the Blues midfield whilst Steve Price reverted to the centre of defence in place of Jon Wordsworth who is still not 100% fit. Andy Evans regained his place up front in place of Graham Lewis who had to be content with a place on the subs. bench.

Frickley came close to breaking the deadlock within the first 60 seconds when Rory Prendergast's cross from the left was flicked off the head of Evans by Bay defender Colin Caton for Matt Russell to meet it with a first time volley which flew across the penalty area. Shortly afterwards Hanby was fouled outside the box but Simon Collins' 25 yard free-kick was well held under the bar by Billy Stewart. On 5 minutes Bay defender Craig Hogg sliced a clearance which Evans chased towards the box but, unfortunately, the ball spun away from goal and Evans could only watch his ball into the box drift over the far post. Two minutes later Bay had their first threatening attack when Marc Limbert did well down the right before sending over a good cross behind the Blues' defence but just too far ahead of Deiniol Graham for him to reach. Just seconds later Evans played the ball between two defenders for Leroy Chambers to break into the box from the right but Stewart did well to block his shot with an outstretched leg and the ball rebounded to safety. Then on 11 minutes the Blues finally took the lead. Perseverance by Collins down the right of the box saw him create space to to get the ball across into the danger area where PRENDERGAST met it with a powerful volley from 10 yards to give Stewart no chance. Four minutes later Collins again did well down the right of the box before cutting the ball back to Evans whose snap-shot from 6 yards went over the bar. Although the Blues were well on top at this stage they were nearly punished  for not taking their chances a minute later when a Bay corner from the right found its way to Jason Jones at the back of the box whose strong shot came back off Mark Wilkinson's left hand upright. Then, seconds later, Limbert threaded a good ball through to Graham who went round Wilkinson but shot wide of an empty net from 12 yards. Matt Russell then intercepted a pass in the Colwyn Bay half and ran at the Bay defence before playing the ball into the path of the overlapping Prendergast but his 20 yard shot was tipped over the bar by Stewart. On 36 minutes Prendergast played a great ball in to Chambers from the left which saw the latter unmarked just 8 yards out but Stewart somehow tipped Chambers goalbound shot over the bar. Bay then threatened again with Graham breaking clear  following a long ball over the top but, under pressure from Hanby, he shot straight at Wilkinson. The, on the stroke of half time some good play down the Bay right saw the ball played inside to Jason jones whose shot from the edge of the box hit the side netting.

Colwyn Bay equalised on 52 minutes following a free-kick on the right of the box, awarded when Scheuber made a meal of a challenge by Prendergast, with James McIlvogue heading in Limbert's free-kick from 6 yards. But, 5 minutes later the Blues were back in front. Russell did well down the right before laying the ball back to Gary Reece whose low cross was flicked goalwards by COLLINS with the ball squirming under the body of Stewart and over the line. Evans then headed a Prendergast free-kick down into the path of Chambers but the ball was hacked clear as Chambers was about to score. On 66 minutes Limbert cut in from the right before seeing his deflected 20 yard shot saved by Wilkinson. Bay went close again on 72 minutes when Wilkinson pulled off a great save to deny Graham from close range but it was the Blues who came closest to scoring again in the later stages of the game. On 85 minutes Prendergast saw his 25 yard free-kick well held by Stewart under the bar whilst twice Prendergast got in good positions down the left but his final ball was too close to defenders who managed to clear.

Frickley Athletic : Wilkinson, Collins, Gowen, Hanby, Place, Reece (Myers 65), Russell, Price, Evans (Lewis 74), Chambers, Prendergast. Unused sub. Wordsworth.

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