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Friday 26th December - Wakefield & Emley 0-2 Frickley Athletic

The Blues were boosted by the return to the side of Lee Morris, Paul Marquis and Nick Richardson whilst Antony Jackson was considered fit enough for a place on the bench. Jon Hood continued in goal but Dale Rimmington and Mark Vickerage were both ill.

A slow start to the game saw the Blues have the first half chance on 12 minutes when a short back pass from Nicky Wood saw Scott Brough almost seize on the chance but Paul Cuss was out quickly to block at Brough's feet. Dan Sheriffe was then brought down by Scott Bairstow some 25 yards. The resulting free-kick was cleared to Lee Pugh who fed Sheriffe again down the right and he cut inside to fire a low cross across the face of goal but no-one could get the vital touch.

The game continued to lack a cutting edge from either side during the second half, although Morris fired wide of the right hand post from 16 yards and Steve Robinson forced Cuss to tip his dipping 30 yard shot over the bar. Phil Sharpe then replaced Sheriffe with Jackson who added some much needed height to the Blues forward line. The Blues finally made their breakthrough on 70 minutes following Brough's left wing corner which was hit long for Phil Lindley to cross back into the box for MORRIS to flick it inside Cuss' right hand post. Just seconds later the Blues had a clear cut penalty appeal rejected as Morris ran at the home defence before feeding the overlapping Brough whose cross was blatantly handled by a defender. Gary Hatto then replaced Richardson on 78 minutes and three minutes later Marquis met a Brough corner with a powerful header which Cuss did well to get down and save. Goalscorer Morris was replaced by Michael Blythen on 86 minutes and it was he who had a hand in the Blues second goal a minute from time when he got goal side of Wood inside the box but Cuss blocked his shot only for the loose ball to fall kindly for JACKSON to sidefoot into the empty net.

Frickley Athletic : Hood, Richards, Fawcus, Lindley, Pugh, Marquis, Robinson, Richardson (Hatto 78), Morris (Blythen 86), Sheriffe (Jackson 55), Brough. 

Att: 396

Ref : Mr  A. R. Nicholson

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