Just two changes were made to the side from Saturday with Lee Stratford replacing Mark Tyrell down the left and Rob Hanby returning in place of Duane Beckett who had to be content with a substitutes berth. Emley started with former Blues players' Gary Hatto and Miles Thorpe in midfield and Mark Wilson on the bench.

An eventful first half saw Frickley have most of the play and have the better chances. On 9 minutes Emley 'keeper Cuss just managed to palm away a goalbound header in a crowded penalty area with the ball falling kindly to be cleared up field. The game saw both sides press forward before it came to life on the half hour mark. Lee Stratford got on the end of Steve Price's cross from the right but his looping header dropped fractionally over the bar with Cuss well beaten. A minute later Bambrook was allowed to throw Hilton to the ground as Emley broke and turned to fire a low shot across goal with no-one able to apply a finishing touch. Then, on 36 minutes, Rob Hanby pulled back Thorpe who retaliated by swinging an arm at him giving the referee no choice but to send him off. Craig Marsh then headed wide of the left hand post from a Stratford cross and just before half time Chris Hurst volleyed over the bar from 22 yards.

Emley came out more fired up in the second half and had more of the play. Nazha had a couple of long range efforts which failed to test Mark Wilkinson before he headed over from close range following a corner on 58 minutes. Beckett replaced Marsh up front which give Frickley more of an outlet from defence and then Phil Brown was wisely replaced by Andy Gregory after picking up a booking in the first half and repeatedly being penalised by the referee. A speculative long range effort almost caught out Wilkinson on 63 minutes but the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock came on 70 minutes when Emley substitute Wilson controlled the ball well in the box but then dragged his shot side of Wilkinson's right hand post when in a good position. Frickley's raids on the Emley goal were far more spasmodic during this half with only a couple of chances from corners being significant.

In the end it was a good point won but Emley are far from being a Conference side. The major disappointment was the news that Colwyn Bay had won 4-2 at Leek - a result which gives every indication that the second relegation spot might not be decided until the last game of the season.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Stratford, Jones, Ogley, Hanby, Brown (Gregory 66), Price, Chambers, Hurst, Marsh (Beckett 56). Unused Sub. Matt. Wilkinson.