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Saturday 5th November - Marine 1-0 Frickley Athletic

The Blues suffered their third defeat of the season as Ged Courtney's disputed first half strike settled this top of the table clash. The result was tough on the Blues who had dominated the first half and also enjoyed large spells of pressure in the second half but were unable to create a clear cut chance to score. Courtney's goal came against the run of play and he appeared to be clearly offside when the ball was played to him. The Blues also did well not to retaliate when faced by numerous scything challenges from a Marine side who frequently struggled to cope with the pace and guile of the the Frickley side when going forward. 

With Nicky Heinemann unavailable Gary Marrow was able to welcome Matt Daly back into the defence with Phil Lindley moving to left-back. Simon Collins had shaken off the knock that he picked up at Lincoln United on Tuesday evening and Leroy Chambers partnered Andy Evans up front.

The Blues set the tempo straight from the kick-off as they immediately attacked the Marine goal and had an effort cleared off the line after just 3 minutes when Lee Pugh's run from midfield saw him play the ball out side to Alex Callery whose  cross found the head of Chambers. His header looped over Andy Ralph in the Marine goal but was headed off the line by a covering defender. Minutes later Martyn Woolford evaded one challenge down the right but was cynically brought down from behind by Steve Hollis as he looked to break into the box. Strangely the referee decided not to caution the offender. Woolford was soon involved again when he met Callery's cross from the right but his hooked shot went over the bar. Woolford went close again on 17 minutes but his low 20 yard shot was pushed around the right hand post by Ralph. It seemed only a matter of time before the Blues took the lead but, against the run of play Marine took the lead on 34 minutes following a throw down the right as, despite Courtney appearing to be clearly offside, he steered the ball past Gary Ingham and the referee waved away the Blues' protests. The Blues responded almost immediately but Evans' header from Calum Selby's corner flew just wide of the far post. Lee Pugh was then sandwiched between two two defenders and bundled over as he tried to broke into the box but the referee again defied logic by waving 'play on'. 

The Blues started the second half in much the same way as the first with Evans having his diving header saved at the foot of the post by Ralph from a Collins' cross after 50 minutes whilst 4 minutes later a great free-kick from Selby just evaded the trio of Steve Kennedy, Evans and Chambers with the goal at their mercy. However, Marine responded with Lee Parle volleying just over the bar from 18 yards. With 20 minutes to play Marine's Neil Murphy received a second yellow card, and hence his marching orders following, a clumsy challenge on Woolford. This forced Marine to sacrifice Courtney as they brought on Robbie Moore to bolster their defence. Selby went close for the Blues on 75 minutes but his low 25 yard shot grazed the outside of the left hand post with Ralph beaten. On 81 minutes a quick break from Marine saw Carl Rendell fire in an 18 yard shot which saw Ingham pull off a great one-handed save to deny him.