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With only two changes to the line-up following Tuesday's League Cup tie at Gainsborough Trinity Martin Kearney replaced Mark Wilkinson (back injury) in goal whilst Mark Ogley was once again available and he returned to the subs. bench. Loan forward Sanisa Savic played his last game before returning to Barnsley.

It took nine minutes before the first effort on goal came from either side and this came from the Blues as a deep cross from the left was headed back across goal by Gary Duffty to Simon Collins but his effort was blocked. Ten minutes later Collins headed over Steve Price's cross from the right whilst a minute later Kearney could only watch as an over hit cross by Runcorn's Carragher sailed just wide of the far post. Despite creating very little the home side took the lead on 31 minutes when a corner from the right was headed in unmarked by Paul McNally and four minutes later he almost doubled his tally as he headed a cross from Carragher wide of the left hand post. The Blues responded with Andy Evans looping a header just over the bar on 39 minutes but almost on the stroke of half time Kearney was in the right place to hold a strong 20 yard shot by Gamble as Runcorn countered. Almost immediately Evans broke down the right and sent over a cross which eluded Duffty but fell to Graham Lewis at the far post. He turned and shot but his low shot was well smothered by Winstanley in the home goal.

At half time Savic was replaced by Scott Collins with Lewis partnering Evans up front. This prompted almost one way traffic towards the Runcorn goal as the Blues searched for an equaliser. Lewis went close on 53 minutes when Simon Collins found him in space to the left of the box but his shot swerved wide of the left hand upright. McAllister almost broke through the Blues defence on 59 minutes but , under pressure from Jon Wordsworth, he shot wide of the post. A minute later Evans had a good opportunity when he intercepted a wayward to back pass but his shot was blocked by Winstanley's leg. Three minute later Evans was at the heart of matters again as he played the ball out wide to Price before making a run into the box to meet Price's cross with a volley into the side netting. The Blues were unlucky on 66 minutes when Evans headed another Price cross back across goal but neither Lewis or Collins could get in a shot from just 6 yards out. Runcorn then had a rare break when substitute, and manager, Liam Watson broke clear but was forced wide by Chris Gowan and Kearney did well to catch his ball into the box. On 75 minutes Lewis was brought down outside the box but Scott Collins' effort was easily caught by Winstanley, whilst on 82 minutes Collins put another free-kick narrowly over the bar after Phil Brown was fouled. The home side almost snatched an unlikely second goal right at the death when Runcorn's price got the better of Gowan and crossed to Watson at the far post who put his effort wide.

Frickley Athletic : Kearney, Simon Collins, Gowan, Hanby, Wordsworth, Jones, Lewis, Price, Evans, Savic (Scott Collins 45), Duffty (Brown 64). Unused sub. Ogley

Attendance : 241

Referee :