Frickley more than held their own against promotion chaser's Stalybridge Celtic in a match which started off slowly in the first half but had numerous chances at both ends during the second period with both goalkeepers pulling off good saves to keep the game scoreless. The Blues were boosted beforehand by the return of captain Steve Price with Dean Jones and Mark Ogley also being fit enough to play although Chris Hilton was missing through food poisoning and Gary Duffty is expected to be fit for the trip to Leek Town next Saturday.

The early exchanges saw the Blues enjoy a fair amount of possession against the second placed side but it was the visitors who had the first sight of goal on 9 minutes. Parr knocked down a cross from the left to Ward who hit a thunderous shot from about 16 yards which Mark Wilkinson did well to dive to his right and turn around the post. The Blues' first effort came on 19 minutes when Chris Hurst saw his 30 yard effort sail over the bar and shortly afterwards Rob Hanby picked the ball up on half way before having a low 25 yard shot well saved by Ingham. A minute later Hanby went close again when Hurst headed down Price's free-kick but Hanby's angled shot went over the bar from 5 yards. Frickley were starting to get on top by now and Lee Stratford had a 25 yard free-kick easily saved by Ingham on his near post. However, on 40 minutes Stratford came close to scoring at the other end when Sullivan beat Price for pace down the left and sent over a harmless cross which Stratford tried to chest back to Wilkinson but he managed to chest it just inches side of the right hand post with Wilkinson nowhere near!

The second half saw Andy Gregory replace Alex Willgrass on the right and the Blues went on the offensive almost immediately with Leroy Chambers feeding Ian Edge down the left. He ran at the last defender before checking back to return the ball to Chambers who put a 20 yard shot just wide of the left hand post. On 52 minutes Frickley had claims for a penalty turned down as Duane Beckett swung the ball into the box with Ingham coming to collect but he spilled it with the loose ball falling to the onrushing Edge who went down under Ingham's challenge but the referee was having none of it. Eight minutes later Edge got clear down the left and crossed to Chambers who was foiled by a combination of a defender and goalkeeper but Stalybridge slowly hauled themselves back into the game. On 61 minutes Steve Jones shot narrowly wide of the left hand post after the Blues defence had failed to clear from a free-kick and a few minutes later Ogley almost let in McNeil with a poor back pass but Price came to the rescue. Wilkinson was then forced to claw a header out from under the bar following a free-kick as Celtic forced a period of pressur. And a minute later a ball fell just over the head of Price to Steve Jones whose goalbound shot was blocked by Ogley. Chances then followed at both ends as both teams pushed for the three points which were so vital for different reasons. On 73 minutes Frickley seemed certain to score but three efforts were cleared off the line as Hanby, twice, and Dean Jones were both denied by goal line clearances which resulted in a corner. From the corner again the Blues saw the ball hacked clear off line. At the other end Wilkinson brilliantly denied Filson as he headed goalwards from a corner on 76 minutes. Edge then found Gregory in space on the right but, with just Chambers and a defender in the box he vastly over hit his cross and the chance was wasted. On 85 minutes Celtic wasted an opportunity to take the lead when Filson again headed goalwards from a corner but this time a team-mate attempted to flick the ball in but he headed it narrowly over the bar from only a couple of yards out. And on 88 minutes Parr dragged a 15 yard shot wide after the ball was knocked back to him by what looked like an arm. Then, right at the death in the last minute Hanby played in Chambers but his shot from 18 yards, under pressure from a defender, was brilliantly touched round the post by Ingham and from the corner Hurst volleyed over the bar.

In the end a thoroughly deserved point in an entertaining game which could have gone either way. It was encouraging to have Steve Price back in the side and, hopefully, we will soon have a fully fir squad to choose from.

Frickley Athletic : Mark Wilkinson, Willgrass (Gregory 45), Stratford, Jones, Ogley, Hanby, Beckett (Matt. Wilkinson 78), Price, Chambers, Hurst, Edge (McAreavey 88).

Stalybridge Celtic : Ingham, Ward, Sullivan, Crookes, Filson, Bauress, Pickford, Parr, McNeil (Cooke 67), Jones, Locke. Unused subs Scott, Williamson.

Attendance : 402