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Saturday 18th November - North Ferriby United 3-2 Frickley Athletic

The Blues went down to a narrow 3-2 defeat at North Ferriby United this afternoon despite taking the lead through Rob Pell after 23 minutes. Gary Bradshaw leveled 3 minutes later with a free kick and then 2 further goals in the space of 3 second half minutes put the home side ahead. Mark Ward curled in a 78th minutes free kick for the Blues to set up a frantic finish but the Blues couldn't quite force an equaliser.

Billy Heath kept faith with the same line-up that performed so well in the previous two games and the Blues started the game well. Pell went close to opening the scoring after 18 minutes when Paul Palmer's 25 yard shot was blocked with the ball falling to Pell on the edge of the box but his shot went just wide of the left hand post. Five minutes later Pell won the ball 35 yards before playing it to Neil Ashley on the left. He played the ball back inside to PELL who fired a powerful shot past Antoni Pecora from 25 yards. However, the home side were level within 3 minutes as Ferriby were awarded a debatable free-kick 20 yards out which Gary Bradshaw curled inside the bottom right hand corner.

The Blues were dealt a blow early in the second half when Steve Robinson was forced off with an injury and was replaced by Paul Rickers. Bradshaw then cut in from the right before striking the foot of the right hand post from the edge of the box whilst at the other end Pell saw his low 22 yard free-kick collected at the second attempt by Pecora. On 62 minutes the home side took the lead. The Blues lost possession after taking a quick free-kick allowing Ferriby to break down their left through Bradshaw who went down inside the box under a challenge from Steve Heath. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Bradshaw stepped up to score via the right hand post. Two minutes later it was 3-1 as Chris Hilton gave the ball away on half way allowing Bradshaw to break away, round Jon Hood and slot the ball into an empty net.

To their credit the Blues kept pushing forward and were rewarded on 78 minutes when substitute MARK WARD curled a 20 yard free-kick just inside the right hand post. Four minutes later Martin Thacker saw his low 20 yard shot squirm through a crowded box and fell to Danny Walsh 12 yards out but Pecora was quickly off his line to brilliantly block Walsh's shot. Ferriby hit the Blues' bar following another quick break but Pecora came to their rescue in stoppage time as he somehow managed to claw a free-kick from Thacker out from under the bar.