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Saturday 6th October - Frickley Athletic 0-0 Eastwood Town

While there was no elusive victory for Frickley's new management team of Mark Hancock and Andy Hayward, there was several positives from this goalless draw with Unibond Premier Division highfliers Eastwood.

There was more confidence in defence, Adam Pollock excelling in the middle, while Andy Hayward's experience helped give the attack more bite and, with a bit of luck, success should be just around the corner.

The Blues aren't having any luck when it comes to refereeing decisions, however, a ghastly mistake at North Ferriby in the previous game being almost matched by an incident on the stroke of half-time was Pollock was felled by raised studs from Ricki Hanson, who escaped with just a booking!

A good Town attack down the right in the fifth minute found Chris Shaw unmarked on the other flank but he screwed his shot wide from 15 yards.

The ball switched to the other end, Chris White beating two men before picking out Richard Tracey, whose shot was deflected over the bar.

Jon Hood went full stretch to hold a low drive from Liam Hearn at the second attempt in the eighth minute as Frickley adapted to the opposing pace, while a free-kick from White in the 29th minute led to the ball being half cleared to Chris Gowen, but he put a first time 30 yard drive wide.

Hearn outpaced Jones for a through ball in the 40th minute and flicked a shot past the advancing Hood, only for it to roll across the face of goal and past the far post.

The second half saw the Blues continuing to press, Hayward and Gowen combining in the 58th minute but Steve Robinson overhit the cross and the threat passed.

A more accurate cross from Robinson in the 63rd minute produced a glancing header from Lee Morris which Ian Deakin just managed to fingertip to safety, and Pollard put a powerful header just over in the home side's next probing attack.

It took a fine save from Hood to foil Dean Meikle's low 20 yard drive in the 70th minute, while he also did well to flick a curling corner kick from Chris Shaw over the bar after 84 minutes.

A long throw from Robinson on the left in stoppage time was glanced on by Morris past Deakin, but Hanson cleared off the line to keep the scoresheet blank.