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Saturday 18th December - Frickley Athletic 1-0 Prescot Cables

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The Blues knocked Prescot Cables out of the UniBond league President's Cup courtesy of a 5th minute goal from Leroy Chambers but it was surprising that there weren't more goals at both ends as both sides squandered chances.

With Steve Robinson serving a one-match suspension Gary Marrow was forced to make one change, playing Adam Russell at right full-back. Adam Oldham came back into the squad, starting on the bench.

The Blues carved the visitor's defence wide open after just 90 seconds but Richard Tracey's ball into the box was just inches too high for Chambers. However, 2 minutes later, Adam Russell was fouled down the right and Steve Woolford sent over a good free-kick which CHAMBERS headed just inside the right hand post. Chambers and Wael Nazha then combined well down the centre of the pitch but Nazha was denied by a great tackle as he threatened to break into the box. On 12 minutes the Blues went agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Lee Pugh sent Chambers away down the right. His cross was met by a powerful header from Neil Ashley that Andy Paxton did well to push against the bar. However, after threatening to run away with the game the Blues suddenly let Cables back into the game. First, a cross to the back post was headed down to Karl Connelly but he fired into the side netting from 6 yards. Minutes later Mark Peers broke clear into the box but Gary Ingham did brilliantly to smother his low shot and, after the Blues had failed to clear the danger, the ball was played back in to Connelly but Ingham brilliantly blocked his left footed shot from 6 yards. At the other end, Nazha flashed an 18 yard shot just wide of the left hand post whilst Ingham was then called into action again to deny Connelly.

After a few sporadic attacks from Prescot early in the second half the Blues had a great chance to extend their lead when Paxton's goalkick was met by a powerful header from Steve Kennedy which Chambers flicked on for Nazha to break clear down the right. Nazha intelligently played the ball across the face of goal to the far post where Richard Tracey blazed over the bar from 10 yards. The Blues then lost Kennedy with a head injury and he was replaced by Dean Foley. Shortly afterwards Calum Selby played the ball over the Prescot defence for Tracey who cut in from the left to fire in a fierce shot which Paxton did well to deflect past the far post. Next it was Pugh's turn to be denied by Paxton as he met a headed clearance on the volley from 25 yards and struck a powerful shot which bounced up in front of Paxton who parried the ball past the post. As the game entered the final ten minutes both sides made changes but were unable to make any further impression on the scoreline.