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Saturday 26th January - Marine 2-3 Frickley Athletic

Reduced to nine men for the second consecutive UniBond Premier Division encounter, Frickley managed to hang on to a first half lead and deservedly lift the scalp of highflying Marine.

With Chris Gowen and Chris White both serving a one match ban for obtaining five bookings and Lee Morris injured, the Blues brought in new signing Wayne Harratt, who made an impact in the tenth minute when his long throw was flicked on to Neil Towler who turned and hit the target from six yards.

A deep cross from the right in the 15th minute fell to Paul Woolcott and his first time 18 yard volley was well saved at the foot of a post by Jon Hood.

Frickley improved their advantage four minutes later when a massive free-kick from his own half by Steve Robinson was just missed by Rob Pell and also home keeper Andy Brown as it went just inside the far post.

Some good work by Towler and Chris Hilton set up Pell in the 26th minute and his 25 yard effort skimmed the bar as the visitors continued to control exchanges, and they struck again in the 38th minute.

Harratt flicked on a high ball to Towler who headed towards Pell on the edge of the Marine penalty area where James Connolly tried to shepherd the ball back to keeper Brown, but he missed the ball and Pell pounced to put it into an empty net.

A minute later, the Blues had Phil Lindley harshly dismissed for a second yellow card when neither challenge really merited a card and, five minutes into stoppage time, Robinson received a second yellow and subsequent red card after being judged to have fouled Kevin Towey, Steve Hussey converting the resultant spot kick.

Adam Pollock had replaced Harratt after Lindley's departure, and it was a case of backs to the wall for the visitors on the resumption, Hood making a fine save to grasp a 25 yard drive from Ian Latham in the 54th minute, although he watched as a 25 yard drive by Phil Brazier rattle the outside of the left hand upright after 71 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Hood got down quickly to push away a low 20 yard effort from Freddy Potter, which came to him quickly through a mass of players.

Marine narrowed the gap in the 82nd minute when Ian Latham lashed an angled 20 yard drive just inside the far post, and thought they had equalised in the second minute of stoppage time with a 20 yard scorcher from Kevin Towey, but Hood was not to be denied and managed to fingertip the ball to safety.