Official Frickley Athletic Website 

The Blues notched up their third consecutive win as they comfortably made amends for last months four goal defeat on Merseyside. Starting with an unchanged line-up, the Blues were almost caught out in the first minute when Marine's Rick Bainbridge saw his 20 yard shot deflected wide of the left hand post. The Blues had a good chance to take the lead themselves four minutes later when Rob Hanby broke through the middle to control a ball over the top from the left but, unfortunately, after controlling the ball well his low shot was well smothered by 'keeper Chris Clarke. Two minutes later Marine were again on the attack with Neil Black just failing to get a touch on a cross from the right by Richie Townsend when well positioned in front of goal. The Blues started to make more of an impression after the first fifteen minutes and, after creating a few half chances, the Blues took the lead on 22 minutes. Simon Collins pushed the ball into the path of LEROY CHAMBERS who managed to steer a miss-hit shot from 8 yards past Clarke and into the bottom right hand corner of the net despite the attempts of a defender to clear. Andy Evans then latched onto a through ball from Chris Gowen to get in a low shot from the edge of the box which Clarke got down to block. On 40 minutes Chambers did well down the right before picking out Evans in the box but the tall striker missed his kick in front of goal. The, deep into stoppage time Dean Jones put a low 25 yard free-kick wide of the left hand post.

The start of the second half saw the visitors come more into the game with Bainbridge heading over Townsend's cross from 6 yards whilst the Blues responded with Collins heading narrowly over following a free-kick by Rory Prendergast. On the hour Mark Wilkinson was well placed to catch a close range header by Black before the Blues extended their lead on 65 minutes. A loose ball down the left was played to SIMON COLLINS who looked up and saw Clarke well off his line before lifting a 30 yard shot over him and into the net. This seemed to settle the Blues down and they started to dictate play much more. Eight minutes later a cross from the right by Gary Reece was inadvertently flicked on by a defender to Evans who saw the ball late and was unable to keep his volley down as it sailed over the bar from 6 yards. On 76 minutes Prendergast sent over a cross from the left which Chambers looked odds-on to meet but Gary Randles did brilliantly to get back and head clear. But four minutes later the game was all but over when the impressive Hanby was brought down on the edge of the box by Bainbridge. Prendergast stepped up to take the free-kick which Clarke blocked but GRAHAM LEWIS followed up to head in the rebound.

Marine : Clarke, Gelling, Douglas, Lally (Wareing 71), Rimmer, Gautrey, Bainbridge, Hussin, Black (Morgan 70), Townsend (Robinson 82), Randles.

Attendance : 173

Referee : Mr David Birkett (Gainsborough)