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Tuesday 22nd October - UniBond League Cup 1st Round

Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-0 Frickley Athletic

With no League points at stake, Phil Sharpe took the opportunity to rest several players who have been carrying injuries over the past few games and give some of the fringe players a run out. So Mark Samways, Chris Gowen, Nigel Hemstock, Craig Elkin, Paul Marquis and Ryan Williams made way for Richard Siddall, Graham Nicholas, Mark Hine, Lee Morris and Craig Marsh with Sharpe naming himself on the subs bench alongside Elkin and an almost fit Jon Wordsworth. Surprisingly Sharpe opted to start with Andy Evans in defence alongside Mark Hancock and Antony Jackson whilst Marsh partnered Curtis Bernard up front.

The Blues had a let-off in the first few minutes when Paul Jackson headed wide from a right wing cross but they responded on 8 minutes when Nicholas played the ball down the left to Morris who fed the overlapping Bernard but his dangerous -looking cross towards Marsh was put behind by Gary Middleton but, unfortunately the corner came to nothing. On 18 minutes the home side took the lead when Evans tried to bring the ball out of defence but he was robbed by Matt Bullock who took the ball into the box before having his hot blocked by Siddall but the rebound was knocked in by James Tevendale. A minute later Stocksbridge went close again when a long range shot clipped the bar whilst on 26 minutes Siddall pulled of a great save to deny Paul Jackson. Sharpe then pushed Evans up front and dropped Marsh back but the Blues still struggled to create much up front.

Just minutes after half time Tevendale found himself clean through but he shot wide under pressure from Antony Jackson but Steels didn't have to wait long to extend their lead. On 53 minutes the Blues failed to clear a corner and when the ball was played back into the box former Blues' player Russ Green controlled it before firing in from 15 yards. On 56 minutes Evans and Bernard combined well for the latter to break into the box from the left but Jamie Holmshaw got down well to block his angled shot. At the other end Siddall was forced to pull off a good save to deny Jeremy Illingworth whilst on 71 minutes Duncan Richards forced Holmshaw to tip over a rocket-like 25 yard shot but that was about as good as it got for the Blues who lacked drive and creativity in midfield and were repeatedly left wide open at the back.

Frickley Athletic : Siddall, Richards, Nicholas, Jackson, Marsh, Hine, Hancock, Bernard, Evans, morris, Nesa. Unused subs. Wordsworth, Elkin, Sharpe.

Attendance : 

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