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Saturday 20th October - Prescot Cables 2-3 Frickley Athletic

The FA Trophy has not been a successful competition for Frickley in recent seasons, but this triumph at Prescot in the 1st qualifying round might signal a change in fortunes.

It was the Blues first victory of the season, and could prove to be the springboard to improve their luck in this tournament and the UniBond Premier Division.

Andy Hayward sent Lee Morris down the right in the fifth minute and he crossed to Ashley Flynn, but he miss-hit his shot from ten yards and it was cleared.

An 11th minute corner kick saw an unmarked Karl Bell head just over at the other end, and Ryan Wade seized a loose ball in the 25th minute and put his effort just off target.

Two minutes later, a left wing corner from Chris White was punched away by Richie Mottram but fell to Flynn, whose first time volley was headed off the home line by Lee Smith.

Prescot took the lead in the 35th minute, a crossfield ball finding Wade in acres of space and, while his cross was blocked, the ball dropped to Lee Smith who struck a 20 yard drive through a labyrinth of legs and into the net.

Three minutes later Frickley were level, Hayward finding White who beat the Cables keeper from 12 yards, and White than rattled an upright with a 15 yard drive before Hayward clipped the bar with a header, following a cross from Morris.

The Blues turned the tables in the 52nd minute, a cross from Chris Hilton evading Hayward but dropping to Flynn and he gave the keeper no chance from the edge of the penalty area.

Eamon Price beat visiting keeper Jon Hood in a race for a through ball in the 63rd minute but poked his shot wide, while Hood did well to hold a 25 yard free-kick from Steve McEwan four minutes later.

At the other end, Mottram managed to smother a scorching 30 yard free-kick from Neil Redfearn after 68 minutes, and Morris found the keeper off his line three minutes later and produced a cunning 35 yard lob which dropped just over the bar.

Cables levelled in the 81st minute after Wade hit an upright from 15 yards and the ball bounced to Karl Bell, who appeared to be off-side, but he beat Hood from 12 yards and the goal was given.

Frickley were not to be denied, however, Craig Marsh launching a free-kick from his own half in the 86th minute which was headed clear by a defender but only as far as Neil Redfearn who promptly despatched an unstoppable 20 yard drive into the net to settle the issue.