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Friday 25th March - Frickley Athletic  1-2  Hyde United

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Boosted by a sizeable and vociferous contingent from Hyde the Blues suffered a narrow home defeat to title chasing Hyde United in front of the largest crowd home crowd of the season.

Gary Marrow opted to make just one change to the side, bringing Wael Nazha into the starting line-up at the expense of Andy Evans but he lasted just 45 minutes before being replaced by Evans at half time.

On a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon the Blues had the first sight of goal after 2 minutes but Nazha's header from Neil Ashley's cross lacked power and was easily dealt with my Tim Mullock. However, Hyde took the lead after just 4 minutes as Matty McNeil took advantage of a fortunate roll of the ball to evade Steve Kennedy's challenge down the right to send over a low cross which found Wayne Dean at the near post to flick the ball past Gary Ingham from close range. Minutes later Dean again found space inside the Blues' box but this time he ran the ball out of play when in a good position. Then, with 18 minutes gone McNeil saw his overhead kick from 16 yards bounce off the top of the crossbar. A few minutes later Simon Collins headed Phil Lindley's deep free-kick downwards inside the box with John O'Kane opting to leave the ball to run to his 'keeper but Nazha almost capitalised only for Mullock to smother the ball at his feet. Hyde increased their lead on 24 minutes when Gerry Harrison rose unmarked in the box to head a right wing corner into the far corner. As half time neared Steve Kennedy was strangely booked along with Hyde's Dale Johnson after Johnson had fouled Kennedy in the box - a decision that was to prove costly late in the game.

Half time saw Evans replace Nazha and Lindley moved to left-back with Ashley playing on the left side of midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. On the hour the Blues went close to pulling a goal back when a patient build-up saw Robinson send over a deep cross which Simon Collins headed inches over the bar. The Blues did pull a goal back on 70 minutes when Robinson's long ball saw CHAMBERS finally get the better of Lincoln Adams inside the box and his perseverance through a couple of challenges saw his shot from a tight angle deflect in via Hyde substitute Paul Jones. Hyde were now much less threatening and the Blues must have fancied their chances of getting back on level terms as they looked the most likely side to score again. As time started to run out Collins headed a foot wide following Ashley's left wing corner and as the game entered stoppage time Kennedy committed a high foul on O'Neil, who made a meal of the challenge, and was booked for the second time and subsequently received a red card.