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Saturday 6th March - Frickley Athletic 0-2 Lancaster City

The Blues lost a heated game after finishing with 9-men following the sendings off of Wayne Benn and Duncan Richards, but, in truth, Lancaster could count themselves lucky not to have a couple of the own players sent off.

After a cagey start Steve Robinson had the first effort on goal after 4 minutes but his 20 yard shot drifted wide of the right hand upright. Nick Richardson then saw his close range header from a Gary Hatto left wing cross easily caught by Lancaster keeper Kevin Welsby. The referee, Mr Rowntree, then set the tone for his performance in the game by ignoring one assistant referee and seconds later having them both flagging for offside at the same time! On 23 minutes Lancaster's Farrell Kilbane clearly swung an elbow at Dan Sheriffe as the two jostled for the ball but strangely a free-kick was awarded against Sheriffe. Two minutes later the visitors had their first sight of goal when Tony Sullivan's long throw was flicked on for a Lancaster player to nip in unmarked at the far post to head just wide. On 31 minutes Richardson fouled Jamie Hughes 30 yards out and Ryan Elderton's free-kick hit the wall, but rebounded to him only for Duncan Richards to bring him down 5 yards nearer. This time Sullivan took a quick free-kick which Marc Shackleton spilled and Kilbane tapped the ball into the empty net. On 37 minutes Robinson's long throw fell to Lee Pugh but his 16 yard shot through a corwded box was straight at Welsby. Just before half time Sheriffe seized on a misdirected header from Martin Clark to head straight at Welsby from 6 yards whilst in stoppage time Lee Morris just failed to connect with a Hatto corner with the goal at his mercy.

The Blues' started the second half playing with much more purpose and were unfortunate not to equalise on 47 minutes when Krief played the ball in to Morris, who chested it down to Sheriffe who let fly from 20 yards but the ball came back off the crossbar with Welsby well beaten. The blues had a let off shortly afterwards when Hughes got the better of Richardson on the edge of the box but Shackleton deflected his shot wide for a corner. Mark Vickerage then replaced Sheriffe up front. Lancaster extended their lead on 54 minutes when Sullivan's right wing cross was headed down by Hughes to Steve Jones who made no mistake from close range. Hatto then volleyed just wide of the right hand post following a Robinson long throw. The referee then started the catalyst for the heated exchanges that were to follow. Wayne Benn, who was being pulled and tugged by Rick Mercer, swung an arm at Mercer who then retaliated and a scuffle broke out, with Tony Sullivan (who had been booked minutes earlier also charging in). After consultation with his assistant he quite rightly sent off Benn but amazingly took no action against Mercer or Sullivan who should both have also seen red. Two minutes later Richards followed Benn for an early shower as he made a late challenge on Elderton seconds after being frustrated at not winning a free-kick for obstruction against Elderton. These highly contentious decisions infuriated some of the home supporters, with the referee opting to take the players of the field for a cooling off period of 10 minutes. On 74 minutes Lancaster substitute Peter Thomson got clear but Shackleton twice denied his from close range whilst Hughes made a complete mess of his shot from the rebound as he couldn't even aim the ball goalbound with the goal empty! The remained of the game saw both sides more or less playing out time, with the Blues 9-men struggling to make any impact whilst Lancaster seemed content with what they'd got, although with 5 minutes left to play Thomson broke from his own half into the blues' box but Shackleton pulled off a great save to deny him.

Frickley Athletic : Shackleton, Richards, Pugh, Lindley, Benn, Richardson, Robinson, Krief (85), Morris, Sheriffe (Vickerage 53), Hatto (Fawcus 76). 

Lancaster City : Welsby, Clark, Scott, Kilbane, Elderton, Sparrow, Bauress, Sullivan, Jones, Hughes, Mercer. subs. Thomson, Uberschar, Robertson

Att: 242

Ref : Mr  S Rowntree

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