Without the now departed Andy Hayward the Blues gave one of their best displays of the season in an entertaining match at Ewan Fields in which both sides could easily have taken all three points. With Brendan West injured Matthew Wilkinson replaced him at the centre of the defence with Joe McAreavey filling Hayward's place up front and Tommy Brooks came in on the left wing.

The home side started brightly and forced Mark Wilkinson into a brilliant diving save after only four minutes but the Blues struck back following a corner which was headed goalwards and Gary Duffty, with his back to goal only a yard or two out, tried to flick it over his head and the keeper, but his effort just cleared the crossbar as well. Hyde knocked the ball around well and a cross from the left was met with a header by a player unmarked in the centre of the area but the ball went well wide of the goal. Although the home side looked dangerous going forward the Blues also looked likely to create chances at the other end and on 26 minutes McAreavey found himself breaking clear of the defence but a last ditch tackle on the edge of the box halted his progress. Shortly afterwards Hyde hit the bar with a header from around 15 yards out as the Blues defence struggled to cope with Hyde's balls into the box.

The Blues were dealt a blow on 37 minutes when Matt. Wilkinson went down in agony following a late challenge and a minute later he was forced to leave the action to be replaced by James Watson. Again, on 45 minutes the hosts carved out an opening from a deep cross into the box but, luckily, once again the finishing was woeful as the final header sailed over the bar. Then, in first half stoppage time, the Blues forced a corner which was only half cleared to Brooks who, 12 yards from goal, brought the ball down, flicked it over a defender and volleyed just wide of the near post into the side netting.

The second half saw the Blues look increasingly likely to snatch a winner. Just three minutes after the restart Chris Hurst shot just wide from 22 yards but, at the other end, Rob Hanby saved the day with a fantastic last ditch tackle as Hanson looked certain to score when in acres of space on the edge of the box. On 52 minutes Husrt played a superb ball behind the defence for Brooks to run on to and cut inside but his final shot was straight at the 'keeper. Hurst looked to have scored on 67 minutes when he played a free kick from the centre of the field to Hilton on the right who crossed for Hurst, who had surged into the box, to head against the crossbar with the 'keeper rooted to the spot.

The action continued to be end to end as Hyde won a corner on the left which floated past everyone and struck the far post before being cleared and then Hilton sent Hurst away down the right. His cross was met at the far post by Brooks who turned the ball back into the danger area but the Hyde defence scrambled it clear before a Blues player could get a shot at goal. Then, right at the death, Peter Owen, who had replaced Nicky Cranston, had a chance to net the winner when he combined with Duffty on the edge of the box to run clear of the Hyde defence but, from around 15 yards, he blazed high and wide.

In the end it was a good performance and an entertaining game which neither side really deserved to lose. If performances can continue like this then it shouldn't be long before we pull clear of the bottom of the table.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Hilton, Fox, Matt. Wilkinson (J. Watson 38), Lafferty, Hanby, Cranston (Owen 83), Hurst, McAreavey (Collins 62), Duffty, Brooks

Attendance : 428