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Saturday 29th November - Runcorn FC Halton 3-2 Frickley Athletic

The Blues were knocked out of the FA Trophy in cruel fashion as they conceded a 91st minute winner after looking like taking Runcorn back to Westfield Lane for a replay on Tuesday evening.

Phil Sharpe was forced into making changes with Nick Richardson cup-tied and Mark Vickerage being ill. On the plus side, Steve Woolford made his first start of the season in midfield whilst Dan Sheriffe partnered Karl Colley up front with lee Morris playing deeper and Lee Pugh dropped back to act as sweeper in a 5-3-2 formation.

Frickley went close in the opening sixty seconds but Antony Jackson's header from a right wing free-kick cleared the bar. The home side soon started to dictate the play with Matty McGinn putting a 25 yarder inches over the bar on 10 minutes whilst minutes later Chris Lightfoot forced Mark Samways to tip his 22 yard free-kick round the post. On 17 minutes the home side got the goal that they'd been threatening when some poor defending saw a good break down the right by Barry Hogan who cut into the box and rolled the ball across the face of goal for McGinn to tap in at the far post. This served as a wake-up call for the Blues who sent close on 21 minute when Duncan Richards cross from the right was knocked down by Phil Lindley to Sheriffe but a last ditch block by Tom Spearritt deflected his shot wide for a corner. From the corner Lindley saw his low drive pushed away by Tony McMillan but Karl Colley turned the ball back across goal to SHERIFFE who scored from almost on the line. A quick Runcorn break then  saw Chris Lightfoot turn and shoot from the edge of the box but Samways tipped his shot around the post. As half time approached  the Blues won in corner in the 42nd minute which was taken by Sheriffe and LINDLEY headed powerfully in from 8 yards. On the stroke of half time Morris got the run of the ball as he held off a defender to break into the box but his tame right foot shot was straight at McMillan.

The home side equalised just three minutes after the break when they were awarded a fortuitous free -kick near the left corner flag. The ball into the box was headed against the crossbar by Lightfoot at the back post with the ball coming down and striking Ged Courtney on the line and going in. Jordan Brierley then volleyed straight at Samways from 16 yards whilst the Blues almost regained the lead on 59 minutes when Pugh's ball down the right was headed on by Richards to Sheriffe who beat David Ness and cut into the box before rolling the ball across the 6 yard box for Colley but his flick goalwards was well saved by McMillan. Sharpe then replaced Gary Hatto with Michael Blythen as Lindley moved to left-back and Sheriffe played down the left with the Blues changing to a 4-4-2 formation. On 77 minutes Richards picked up a cross field ball from Lindley to run at the Runcorn defence which opened up in front of him, leaving him to fire in a shot from 22 yards which flew just wide of the right hand post. The Blues then suffered a blow with Antony Jackson being forced off with an injury and being replaced by Gerard McCargo. Woolford dropped into the centre of the defence. As normal time drew to a close the Blues suffered another blow as Richards was forced off through injury and was replaced by Ryan Hardy. Worse was to follow as a high ball into the box caused confusion between Samways and his defence, leaving Lightfoot to fire into an empty net.  

Frickley Athletic : Samways, Richards (Hardy 90), Hatto (Blythen 73), Pugh, Jackson (McCargo 82), Marquis, Woolford, Colley, Morris, Sheriffe, Lindley. Unused subs. Berg, Sharpe

Att: 152

Ref : Mr J. Taylor (Blackburn) 

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