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The Blues travelled to Droylsden looking for the three points which would almost guarantee Premier Division football next season but were without Steve Price, who picked up a knock against Doncaster Rovers and Rob Hanby, who was due to start a two match suspension for an accumulation of bookings. In place of them came Pete Myers, to play down the right with Matt Russell moving into midfield, and Gary Reece who played at right full back. The substitutes included 18 year-old Ashley Griffin and Andy Betts who are both regulars in the Blues U19 side.

On a bumpy pitch the Blues started off well with Leroy Chambers firing wide from just inside the box after being played in by a good ball from Simon Collins on 9 minutes. Five minutes later Mark Place did well to get in the way and block a shot from the edge of the box as the home side had their first meaningful attack. On 17 minutes the Blues produced a telling break from a corner as Pete Myers cleared the danger up to Chambers on half way. He immediately swept the ball out to the right to Andy Evans who returned it to Chambers as he broke into the Droylsden box but his chip into the box was well cut out by the home keeper. The Blues continued to carve out the better chances with Rory Prendergast putting a low 25 yard free-kick inches wide of the right hand upright on 20 minutes whilst on 32 minutes the Blues really ought to have taken the lead. Chambers broke into the box from the left and cur the ball back towards Evans but he reacted slowly and from 6 yards out sliced his shot which fell to Myers on the right but his ball back into the box was cleared.

At half time Dean Jones, who had been struggling for the latter part of the first half, was replaced by Ashley Griffin with Reece moving into the centre of the defence. The second half had for long periods a typical end of season feel about it as both sides were guilty of squandering possession in good positions. The Blues did go close on 49 minutes when Collins flicked the ball over a Droylsden defender on the left before forcing his way past two more defenders to volley just wide of the right hand post with the keeper rooted to the spot. But it was the home side enjoyed a fair amount of possession for the first twenty minutes or so of the second half but without hurting the Blues defence. Graham Lewis replaced Evans on 63 minutes and almost brought the Blues a goal 13 minutes later when Myers played a ball out of defence which found Lewis in space on the right. He cut in towards goal but his angled drive from the edge of the box was well blocked by the keeper. Then, just as the game seemed certain to end as a draw Droylsden snatched an unlikely winner in the 83rd minute. The ball was played into the box from the right and Aeon Lattie pounced to score into the bottom right hand corner from just inside the box. The Blues managed to force a couple of late corners, one of which resulted in a flare-up on the edge of the box which saw Place pushed to the ground by a Droyslden player and their no. 5 repeatedly swing his arms at other Blues' players. The referee, however, decided to book both Place and another Droylsden player whilst the no. 5 received not even a talking to.

Frickley Athletic : Wilkinson, Si Collins, Gowen, Reece, Place, Jones (Griffin 45), Russell, Myers, Evans (Lewis 63), Chambers, Prendergast. Unused sub. Betts

Attendance : 177

Referee : Mr P Dunn (St Helens)

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