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Friday 8th October - Frickley Athletic 2-1 Witton Albion

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What a difference a week makes! A fully committed performance from a much changed line-up earned the Blues their first UniBond League win of the season in Gary Marrow's first game in charge against a Witton Albion side who were reduced to 10-men just before half time.

Out went Matthew Plant, Wayne Benn, Nathan Hood, James Walker and Gary Hatto with Adam Russell returning to the side after being cup-tied against Horden and Steve Kennedy, Calum Selby, Adam Oldham and Matthew Moran all being handed debuts.

The new-look Blues started the game positively and enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges. Playing on the right of midfield, Richard Tracey went close after just 5 minutes when he collected the ball to the right of the box and turned inside to fire in a low left-footed shot which Paul Gibson collected at the second attempt. Marc Shackelton's first scare came on 13 minutes when Witton won a free-kick on the left of the box but the cross flew across the face of goal and 2 yards wide of the far post without anyone getting a touch. Four minutes later Matthew Moran won a corner on the left. He took the flag-kick which was punched back to him by Gibson but when Moran played the ball back into the box TRACEY was unmarked at the far post to fire the ball into the roof of the net from 3 yards to give the Blues the lead. The visitors could count themselves unfortunate not to be on level terms just 5 minutes later when a deft flick on half way sent Mike Moseley away down the left and he cut inside Steve Robinson to fire in a low shot from 15 yards which Shackelton did well to block but Lee Madin looked odds on to score as he was on hand to head the loose ball over Shackelton only for it to rebound off the face of the crossbar. Then, as Chris Fawcus got back to clear Madin handled the ball and the danger was gone. This seemed to spur Witton on and they enjoyed the better of the latter stages on the first half and equalised 7 minutes before the break. A high cross from the left was headed on by Dave Nolan only for Steve Kennedy to handle the ball in the box as he challenged Moseley and the referee immediately awarded the penalty. Moseley stepped up to take the spot-kick but Shackelton blocked it well, only for Moseley to fire the rebound into the roof of the net. Witton were reduced to ten men on 41 minutes. Robinson caught Darrell Dicken after the ball had been played with Dicken appearing to striking Robinson in retaliation. Robinson received a yellow card but Dicken received a red.

The Blues went close to extending their lead early in the second half but Calum Selby's 25 yard free-kick just cleared the cross-bar. whilst another free-kick minutes later clipped the outside of the right hand post. The Blues regained the lead on 54 minutes when a headed clearance from Witton was volleyed forward by Selby for ADAM OLDHAM to chase and, as Gibson raced out to meet him, he steered the ball past Gibson from the edge of the box with the ball trickling just inside the right hand post. Minutes later Moran went close when he cut inside from the left to let fly from 22 yards but the ball flew inches wide of the left hand post. After the Blues' early surge in the second half Witton again started to look dangerous although the Blues' defence coped admirably with most of the visitors attacks. The defence was breached on 76 minutes but Shackelton reacted well to save Moseley's shot on the turn. At the other end Adam Russell went close to extending the Blues' lead  on 83 minutes when Robinson's ball behind the Witton defence saw Russell get clear of Brian Pritchard down the right of the box but his angled shot was tipped over the bar by Gibson. The Blues managed to see out the final few minutes without any real scares and deservedly took their first three points of the season.

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