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Saturday 10th April - Whitby Town 2-1 Frickley Athletic

The Blues could count themselves extremely unfortunate not to return from North Yorkshire with at least a point, if not all three, after going in level at half time and them enjoying most of the possession in the second half. However, the result hinged on a controversial decision by young referee Mr. M. Oliver, who penalised Wayne Benn for a sliding challenge in the Whitby half despite Benn winning the wall cleanly and not coming close to making contact with a Whitby player. Typically, the free-kick led to a penalty being conceded by Phil Lindley which was duly converted.

Phil Sharpe was forced to bring Jon Hood back in goal with Marc Shackleton injured whilst Lindley dropped back into defence in place of the unavailable Paul Marquis whilst Duncan Richards returned at right-back in place of Lee Pugh who was rested and Craig Nellthorpe started down the left. Mark Smith has returned to Chesterfield. 

The home side were the first to threaten with Steve Johnson having a looping header easily caught by Hood after just 2 minutes. At the other end Dan Sheriffe tested David Campbell with a low 20 yard shot which was also easily dealt with. Liam Gildea then got away from Aaron Downes to break into the Frickley box but Downes recovered well to get in a great last ditch tackle. On 13 minutes Alex Gildea found space on the edge of the box to shoot under Hood but Richards cleared off the line. The homes side took the lead on 15 minutes following Lindley conceding a free-kick on the left. The ball was shipped over to the far post where Tony Hall headed the ball back across goal for Scott Nicholson to knock over the line from close range. Three minutes later the scores were level. Downes sent over a great cross-field ball to pick out Nellthorpe on the left and he got the byline to send over a good cross which SHERIFFE knocked in at the far post. The home side threatened again with Steve Johnson heading wide from 6 yards. Whitby had more than their share of luck on 23 minutes when Lee Morris chased Hall's back-pass to Campbell whose clearance struck Morris but luckily rebounded kindly for Campbell to gather off Morris' feet in front of goal. On 27 minutes Downes headed in Benn's free-kick but the goal was ruled out for offside. As half time neared Hall was lucky not to receive a card of any colour when he stood on Morris' face in front of the referee. Whitby went close twice just before half time when Liam Gildea shot straight at Hood from 20 yards and then Johnson found himself clean through but Hood did enough as he didved at his feet and the ball struck Johnson and rolled out for goal-kick.

The second half saw Frickley start positively. Just two minutes after the interval Campbell clashed with his own defender in the box with the ball falling to Benn on the edge of the areas but, frustratingly, the referee stopped play. On the hour mark Sheriffe's blocked shot fell for Nellthorpe who crossed to the far post where Nick Richardson sent in a low cross which Morris' flicked goalwards but Campbell saved on the line. Ten minutes later Benn played a good ball out to the right hand corner of the Whitby box where Richardson met it with a first time volley which Campbell pushed around the post. At the other end Whitby substitute Mark Sheeran shot wide when well placed but Hood was having little to do. Then, on 81 minutes the game turned following Benn being penalised for his challenge in the Whitby half. When the free-kick was taken Lindley brought down Graham Robinson and Craig Veart converted the penalty. In the last minute Steve Robinson was shown a straight red card for allegedly swearing after conceding a free-kick 25 yards out, which Hood pushed around the post.

Frickley Athletic : Hood, Richards, Hatto, Lindley, Downes, Benn, Robinson, Richardson, Morris, Sheriffe (Blythen 90), Nellthorpe (Pugh 77). Unused sub. Sharpe.

Attendance : 316

Referee : Mr M.Oliver

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