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The Blues were rocked just twenty minutes before kick off when stand-in goalkeeper Chris Howe was taken to hospital after snapping a ligament in his ankle during the pre-match warm-up. Howe was due to replace Martin Kearney who had injured his back. Instead Mark Ogley was drafted in between the sticks with Jon Wordsworth, who wasn't initially fit to play, coming in to the defence. Dean Jones was suspended for the one game whilst Mark Place, a new signing from Hucknall Town also came into the defence.

Playing against a stiff wind, the Blues struggled early on whilst Runcorn looked to test Ogley at every opportunity. After 9 minutes Dave Gamble beat Ogley from around 30 yards but the ball came back off the crossbar whilst minutes later Simon Collins shot over from 15 yards after finding himself well placed in the box. On 20 minutes Gary Lunt broke through the Blues' defence to slot easily past Ogley to give the visitors the lead. Five minutes later Runcorn added a second when a corner from the right was bundled in by Mike Tomlinson. Immediately afterwards Gary Duffty replaced the struggling Jon Wordsworth. On 29 minutes Ogley did well to save a close range effort from Neil Whalley but two minutes later a low 20 yard shot by Kevin Leadbetter went under the body of Ogley to give Runcorn a 3-0 lead. And they went close to adding to their lead on 42 minutes when corner from the right was cleared as far as Steve Carragher who let fly from 30 yards but the ball cleared the crossbar by inches with Ogley beaten.

The second half was different again as the Blues, playing with the wind, made more of a fight of it. Chris Gowan came on to replace the ineffective Pete Myers on 52 minutes and four minutes later Andy Evans was unlucky to see his header cleared off the line with the keeper beaten but 6 minutes later Runcorn made it 4-0 when Duffty couldn't prevent Leadbetter getting on the end of a deep cross into the box and he controlled well before finishing past Ogley from 6 yards. Within three minutes the Blues reduced the arrears when Runcorn only half cleared following a corner. Place headed the ball back goalwards and EVANS added the final touch into the net. The Blues started forcing the visitors back with Rory Prendergast replacing Graham Lewis but it was from the 73rd minute onwards that the Blues really gave it a go. First Runcorn 'keeper Tony McMillan was forced to punch the ball over the bar from a close range Simon Collins header whilst a minute later clear claims for a penalty were dismissed by the referee when Evans' cross from the right was blocked by a defender's arm. On 75 minutes Leroy Chambers did well down the left before picking out Simon Collins who was unmarked around the penalty spot but McMillan brilliantly pushed away Collins' powerful first time shot. Prendergast got away down the left three minutes later and sent over a great cross which Chambers met well but his header from 10 yards beat McMillan and hit the top of the crossbar. Shortly afterwards a poor backpass saw McMillan slice clear under pressure from Chambers and the ball fell to Prendergast but his first time shot from 30 yards went over the bar. But, just when it seemed that the Blues would get no reward for their pressure EVANS bundled the ball in at the send attempt following a corner on 85 minutes. Unfortunately, it was too little too late and Blues supporters must wonder what might have been had a recognised goalkeeper played.

Frickley Athletic : Ogley, Si. Collins, Sc. Collins, Hanby, Place, Wordsworth (Duffty 25), Lewis (Prendergast 7), Price, Evans, Chambers, Myers (Gowan 52)

Runcorn FC Halton : McMillan, Carragher, Ness, Whalley, Tomlinson, McNally, Lunt (C. Price 87), Morley, McNeil, Gamble, Leadbetter. Unused subs. Baines, Watson.

Attendance : 158

Referee : Mr R. J. West (Beverley)