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Saturday 23rd August - Frickley Athletic 0-0 Marine

Continuing one of the best starts to a league programme over the last 25 years, Frickley had to settle for a share of the UniBond Premier Division spoils in a tough tussle with Marine, which ended with both sides down to ten men.

The visitors have a reputation for playing hard, and the Blues showed up well, trying to combat some physical challenges with skills, although their task was made more difficult when Chris White was sent off after 33 minutes.

The winger lost his head in a tackle with Darren Brookfield and got the red card for deliberately kicking his opponent.

A 35 yard shot by Lee Morris drifted wide of the target in the seventh minute as the home side tried to impose their authority on Marine, while Rob Pell found White two minutes later and he cut inside but lacked accuracy in his finish.

Peter Cumiskey fired into the side netting from 15 yards after the visitors first dangerous raid in the 17th minute and then beat the off-side trap ten minutes later, only to screw his shot across the face of goal.

The dismissal of White did not stop some penetrating raids by the Blues, Pell running onto a through ball from Anthony Jackson in the 35th minute but lacking power in his shot, and Morris, after beating two defenders, struck an angled 20 yard volley in the 44th minute which Sean Lake could only parry but Adam Farley cleared off the line.

Efforts by Marine to increase the tempo in the second half were repelled by a cucumber cool home cover, in which Steve Heath was a giant, although Adam Nicklin had to hold a low 15 yard shot from Paul Woolcott in the 55th minute.

Two minutes later, at the other end, Pell had a shot blocked and Morris's effort from the rebound was punched clear by Lake, and a deep free-kick by Chris Gowen in the 59th minute was headed over by Jackson from eight yards.

A rising 25 yard drive from Freddie Potter was well held by Nicklin in the 67th minute, but the keeper was beaten to a through ball by Kevin Lynch two minutes later although the latter's lob went over the bar.

Morris picked out Danny Walsh in the 76th minute and raced into the penalty area for the return ball, only to be hacked down by Lee Parle.

Parle received his marching orders, while Morris recovered to take the spot kick and saw his shot blocked by Lake's body at the expense of a corner.

A probing pass by Steve Robinson was snapped up on the left by Morris in the 85th minute and he whipped in an angled drive which Lake again used his fists to punch clear.

Frickley Athletic : Adam Nicklin, Scott Brough, Chris Gowen, Danny Walsh, Steve Heath, Phil Lindley, Chris Hilton, Anthony Jackson (Steve Robinson 80min), Lee Morris, Rob Pell, Chris White. Unused subs. Neil Towler, Adam Lee, Scott Turner, Jon Hood

Marine : Sean Lake, Adam Farley (Freddie Potter 46min), Wayne McDermott, Lee Williams, Joe McMahon (Phil Brazier 15min), Kevin Lynch (Lee Parle 70min), Darren Brookfield, Steve Hussey, Liam Atherton, Peter Cumisky, Paul Woolcott. Unused subs. Danny McNicholas, Jamie Rainford

Referee : A. Greenwood

Attendance : 241