Official Frickley Athletic Website 

www.frickleyafc.co.uk

Thursday 17th April - Marine 0-1 Frickley Athletic

A goal by makeshift striker Steve Robinson earned the Blues 3 vital points which could condemn Gateshead to the play-offs. Robinson was drafted in up front in place of Lee Morris (reasons unknown) whilst Phil Lindley came into midfield in place of Gary Hatto and Matt Daly started in the defence, allowing Mark Hancock to move into midfield.

The home side started the better of the two sides with Neil Black looping a header just over the bar with Mark Samways beaten after just 8 minutes. Marine went close again on 17 minutes when David Nolan's cross from the left was flicked on to Black at the far post who looked odds-on to score but somehow Samways flung himself across to block Black's effort for a corner. The Blues managed their first real attack two minutes later when Steve Woolford sent Robinson clear down the left but his angled drive went wide of the near post. Almost immediately Marine responded as a great ball down their right sent Rick Bainbridge scampering away and he hit a powerful angled shot which Samways did well to turn round the post. The Blues started to drag themselves more into the game after weathering the early storm. Marine were rather fortunate not to be reduced to ten men on 34 minutes when Adam Russell released Robinson who was dragged down by Paul Culshaw as he broke clear but the referee surprisingly only booked Culshaw who was clearly the last man. However, the Blues soon took the lead when Duncan Richards played the ball into space down the right for Robinson to chase. Marine 'keeper Peter Crookes came out but Robinson got there first and shot goalwards with Marine defender Culshaw helping the ball over the line as he tried to clear.

Two minutes after the break the Blues could have doubled their lead when Lindley was fouled on the left and Chris Gowen's free-kick was met on the volley by Antony Jackson but his shot from 8 yards went just wide of the left hand post. The home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser but the Blues' defence was coping admirably with everything that was thrown at them and when they were broke through, Samways dealt comfortably with anything which came his way. Russell went close on 64 minutes when Woolford's perseverance earned a throw-in from near the corner flag which found its way to Russell but his snapshot from 15 yards went inches wide of the left hand post. The Blues survived a strong Marine penalty claim on 74 minutes when Gowen appeared to block a cross from the right with his arm but the referee, who had already ignored several other handball incidents, waved away the claims. Four minutes from the end Samways again came to the Blues' rescue when he again foiled Black from point blank range whilst in the last minute Robinson had a chance to wrap the points up when he robbed Carl Randles on the edge of the Marine box but rushed his shot which went narrowly over the bar.

All eyes will now be on tomorrow's game at Hyde, where Blyth are the visitors, and at Gateshead on Saturday when Worksop visit.

Frickley Athletic : Samways, Richards, Gowen, Daly, Jackson, Marquis, Hancock, Lindley, Robinson, Woolford, Russell (Bernard 75). Unused subs. Hatto, Elkin

Attendance : 241

Main Club Sponsor Required for 2002/03. If interested, please contact us...

Click on the 'vote' banner to vote for this site in Yorkshire's Top 100 Football Sites...