Official Frickley Athletic Website 

www.frickleyafc.co.uk

Saturday 23rd October - Farsley Celtic 2-1 Frickley Athletic

A largely lethargic performance by Frickley saw them go down 2-1 to a lively Farsley Celtic side who moved up into 6th place following the victory. Gary Marrow gave new signings, goalkeeper Gary Ingham and midfielder Alex Higgins, their debuts in place of Marc Shackelton and Steve Woolford whilst Farsley gave a debut to their new signing, former Bradford City and Huddersfield Town midfielder Lee Duxbury. 

Frickley had a chance to take the lead within the first two minutes when Adam Russell caused mayhem in the Farsley defence to win a corner, which was half cleared as far as Higgins but his 18 yard shot was well saved by Tom Morgan. The home side were soon into their rhythm with Mark Bett having his powerful header from a Roy Stamer corner pushed over the bar by Ingham. A Quick break by Frickley saw Matt Moran beat 2 men before being brought down on the edge of the box but Richard Tracey put his 20 yard free-kick over the bar. Farsley took the lead on 18 minutes when Steve Kennedy was dispossessed on half way by Bett who advanced on Frickley's goal to beat Ingham from 18 yards. The home side enjoyed large spells of possession but Frickley were enjoying sporadic breaks. From one of these, on 37 minutes Frickley drew level. Adam Oldham's cross from the right evaded Russell but was collected by MORAN who pushed the ball past Lee Connor before rolling a measured shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Within four minutes of the start of the second half Frickley again found themselves behind. Stamer sent over a cross from the left which Amjad Iqbal met with a header which looped over Ingham and dropped just under the bar. Minutes later a good 4-man move by Farsley resulted in Andy Shields bursting through the Frickley defence but his lob cleared the bar as well as Ingham. On the hour mark Frickley managed a quikc break down the right when Oldham fed Tracey who then rolled the ball across the box towards Russell but the pass was too strong, with Russell just unable to reach it. The home side were soon back on the offensive with Michael Midwood putting a 20m yard shot just wide whilst on 64 minutes Frickley's goal led a charmed life. A quick break saw Stamer get clear down the right with Ingham initially coming out of his goal but then retreating. With Ingham out of his goal Stamer intelligently rolled the ball across the face of goal to Bett but Steve Robinson somehow got back to block Bett's shot on the line and then Calum Selby blocked Midwood's follow-up. 

The last 15 minutes or so saw Frickley push forward and take the ball to Farsley, although from a Farsley break Stamer headed wide at the far post from a right wing cross. Two minutes from time Robinson's right wing cross was pushed over the bar by Morgan. Tracey's corner was flapped off the line by Morgan whilst another Frickley corner also caused Morgan problems. Frickley almost salvaged a point in the last seconds when Robinson's long throw was cleared back to him on the right and he immediately unleashed a terrific left foot shot which skimmed through a crowded goalmouth and went inches wide of the left hand post.