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Saturday 28th August - Frickley Athletic 1-1 Spennymoor United

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Frickley maintained their unbeaten start to the season but have only themselves to blame for failing to record their first victory as chance after chance went begging. Phil Sharpe made just one change to the side with Gary Hatto replacing the unavailable Steve Woolford and playing on the left of midfield.

The Blues gave the visitors a scare straight from the kick-off when Steve Robinson's long ball saw Richard Tracey within inches of reaching it before the onrushing Spennymoor 'keeper Darren Horrigan. Both sides probed without really threatening too much until the Blues forced a corner on 15 minutes. Gary Hatto and Wayne Benn worked a short corner which Hatto chipped into the box as the Sennymoor defence pushed out. The cross was met by a powerful header from Matthew Plant which flew straight at Horrigan on the line. Minutes later Thomas Raw found space for the visitors in the Frickley box but his low shot was blocked by Marc Shackelton. On 26 minutes the visitors look the lead when Hatto fouled Scott Emmerson to the right of the penlty area. When the free-kick came over David Colvin powered a header into the top left hand corner of the net, giving Shackelton no chance. It could have been worse just minute later when Benn was dispossessed in the centre circle, allowing Jon Cullen to play the ball inside Plant for Raw, who tried to lob the advancing Shackelton but Phil Lindley came across to block the shot. On the half hour James Walker replaced the injured Troy Bennett. As half time approached the Blues pushed forward more looking for the equaliser. Benn's ball into the box was missed by Richard Tracey but fell kindly for the advancing Hatto but his angled shot was brilliantly pushed around the post by Horrigan, whilst Walker's persistence saw the ball break for him in the box but his shot flew inches wide of the right hand post. Next, Graeme Severn's deep cross was picked up by Robinson who pushed the ball past Colvin and looked certain to score from with angled shot from 8 yards but somehow Horrigan pushed the ball away for a corner. The resulting corner was half cleared as far as Benn, who played the ball back into the danger area, only for it to be cleared to Walker who turned inside a defender before firing in a low 20 yard shot which beat Horrigan and came back off the left hand post. Hatto came charging in to fire in the rebound but somehow Horrigan recovered enough to deflect the ball across the face of goal.   

Nine minutes after the break Shackelton had to be alert to block at the feet of Raw from just 6 yards out, whilst a quick break minutes later saw Shackelton get down well to collect a 20 yard shot from Danny Brunskill. Immediately, Shackelton launched a long kick which bounced once and looked set to be caught by Horrigan but Mark Vickerage's presence cause him to drop the ball. As Tracey tried to sieze on the loose ball Stuart Niven slid in and brought him down, with the referee immediately pointing the penalty spot. BENN stepped up to blast the spot-kick past Horrigan. The Blues now went in search of a winner. On 65 minutes Vickerage's right wing corner was met by the head of Lindley but Anthony McStea headed off the line. Next, Lee Pugh played the ball into the box for Tracey but Niven did enough to deflect Tracey's shot just wide of the post. The visitors were rarely threatening now, although Shackelton had to be alert to block at the feet of Raw on 73 minutes. On 80 minutes Tracey received a throw-in from Severn down the left, turned and spotted Horrigan off his line and floated in a shot from 35 yards but Horrigan recovered enough to catch the ball at full stretch. Two minutes later the visitors were reduced to ten men when Brunskill received his second yellow card following a deliberate trip on Robinson. Substitute Craig Fisher then headed the ball into the path of the overlapping Walker but his angled drive hit the side netting as the Blues ere forced to settle for their third successive draw.

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