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Tuesday 28th September - Frickley Athletic 0-2 Frickley Athletic

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The Blues suffered their third successive League defeat as Leek Town were the latest opposition side to show the Blues' the way to goal. In his penultimate game in temporary charge Gary Hatto was without the services of both Steve Woolford and Nathan Hood due to work commitments and Dale Rimmington was involved in a car accident early today and was unable to play. Therefore Craig Fisher was hurriedly recalled from the FA Youth Cup fixture at Goole AFC to take up a place on the subs. bench.

Leek forced the early pace in the game, winning a couple of early corners but the Blues came the closest to opening the scoring after 7 minutes when Lee Wilkinson's industry saw him break into the box but he was forced out wide and laid the ball off to Steve Robinson. His cross flew across the 6 yard box but neither Adam Russell or Richard Tracey could get the vital touch. Leek continued to cause the Blues defence problems but the Blues' went close again on 14 minutes when Tracey's left wing corner was tipped from under the bar by Mark Cartwright. The Blues had a let-off on 23 minutes when Dave Whittaker threaded the ball into the box for Richard Eyre but Marc Shackelton did well to block the angled shot and when Matt Plant hooked the ball clear Ben Johnson tried his luck from 35 yards but Shackelton did well to back-pedal and claw the ball away. The visitors were prepared to shoot on sight and saw several 20 and 25 yards shot fly wide before they took the lead in bizarre fashion on 29 minutes.  Shackelton's long clearance was launched immediately back up-field for Carl Frost to chase, although Phil Lindley was nearer to the ball and looked to guide it back to Shackelton as he came out to clear. Unfortunately, Shackelton eased up as he neared the ball, allowing Frost to challenge him as he attempted to clear with the loose ball running kindly for Frost to roll it into an empty net. James Walker went agonisingly close to equalising on 32 minutes when Plant's long free-kick was headed backwards by a leek defender for Walker to pounce from 15 yards but Cartwright did well to tip the ball past the post. On 37 minutes Russell did well on the edge of the Leek box before playing a short pass inside to Tracey who turned well but Cartwright blocked his low 10 yard shot with an outstretched boot. Leek extended their lead on 40 minutes when Plant cheaply gave away a corner. When the ball came over it evaded everyone and fell to Dean Crowe at the far post who lashed a fierce drive between Robinson and the near post.

Early in the second half Rob hawthorne got goalside of Lindley but Shackelton tipped his low angled shot around the post. However, the Blues soon began to force Leek back as they looked to pull a goal back. On 57 minutes Robinson did well down the right to break into the box but when his cross was cut it out it came back to him and he cut inside before firing in a low angled shot which Cartwright did well to deflect around the post. Although the Blues were enjoying a lot of possession they were failing to create many clear cut chances. Troy Bennett replaced Richard Tracey with 14 minutes left to play but the next chance fell to Walker on 80 minutes when he cut in from the right before shooting high and wide from 18 yards. Robinson then had an angled shot beat Cartwright but the ball bobbled just wide of the far post. Hatto brought himself on for the final four minutes but was unable to inspire the Blues to a goal.

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