The Blues bowed out of this season's Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup at the Semi Final stage in a disappointing game which for large parts seemed more like a pre-season friendly than a cup tie. Both sides made changes with Emley resting several first teamers while Steve Richards did likewise with Mark Ogley, Gary Duffty and Phil Brown.

The first half saw the Blues defence give away three sloppy goals which eventually settled the tie. Emley had the first attempt of the game with Ryan Robinson shooting over the bar on 4 minutes with Rob Hanby doing the same at the other end a minute later after Lee Stratford's cross was only half cleared. Then on 7 minutes Chris Hurst headed Chris Hilton's deep cross from the right just wide of the far post when at full stretch. Rob Hanby was then forced out of the game through injury and was replaced with Gary Duffty who added a bit more industry up front. Hurst then almost gave the Blues an unlikely lead when he sent over a high cross from the right from around 40 yards out which beat Taylor but bounced back off the top of the crossbar. The rebound fell to Stratford who headed first time towards goal but his effort was cleared for a corner. On 26 minutes the Blues defence almost contrived to score a bizarre own goal when a free-kick from the left was headed goalwards but Mark Wilkinson spilled the ball only for Dean Jones to clear against the back of his own player with the ball ricocheting narrowly over the crossbar. The visitors took the lead five minutes later when a free-kick from the left was headed in at the near post by Crossley who was unmarked. The Blues' heads then visibly dropped and five minutes later another defensive mix-up lead to Emley increasing their lead. It almost got worse on 42 minutes when Prendergast ran past one challenge to leave a virtually clear run at goal but he chose to shoot and Wilkinson pushed his 22 yard effort over the bar. However, a minute later former Blues' player Mark Wilson made it 3-0 when he received a short corner on the left. His attempt at a cross was half blocked but as he continued into the box the bell fell kindly for him to hit a low angled 10 yard shot beyond Wilkinson. In first half injury time Jones did have the ball in the net following a free-kick but the referee had already blown for an infringement. Then, just to make things worse, Dufftry was carried off at half time with an injury to be replaced by Joe McAreavey.

The second half saw the Blues push forward looking for an early goal. On 48 minutes Duane Beckett put an 18 yard drive wide and McAreavey went close on 51 minutes with an angled 18 yard volley which hit the side netting after Leroy Chambers had set him up. On 52 minutes Steve Price's free-kick from the left was dropped by Taylor but somehow Emley managed to scramble the ball clear as the Blues piled on some pressure. On 53 minutes Stratford ought to have reduced the arrears when a ball over the top found him just inside the box but he let the ball run too far away from him and Taylor smothered it at his feet. With that Emley seemed to weather the storm and were content to sit back and hit the Blues on the counter attack. This they managed a couple of times but each time they resulted in tame shots at Wilkinson or wayward efforts. But, by then, the damage had been done in the space of 12 minutes at the end of the first half. On 70 minutes a free-kick from the left by Price was flicked goalwards but it was then deflected wide for a corner but another Frickley 'old boy' almost had the last say when substitute Gary Hatto put a left foot shot just wide of the left hand post in another rare Emley second half attack on 85 minutes.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Matt. Wilkinson, Jones, Beckett, Hanby (Duffty 17 (McAreavey 45)), Edge, Price, Chambers, Hurst, Stratford. Unused Sub Ogley.

Emley : Taylor, Tonks, Crossley, Robshaw (Day 63), Walker, Burton, P. Robinson, R. Robinson, Wilson, Nazha (Hatto 79), Prendergast. Unused sub Prasher.

Attendance : 177