Recap

PSF5 – Frickley 2 FC Farsley 0

The Blues rounded off their preseason programme with a deserved 2-0 victory over FC Farsley, completing a positive summer campaign with four wins from five outings (WWLWW). The visitors, a newly formed phoenix club, proved well organised and gave us a worthwhile examination ahead of the new league season.

Les Bleus almost made the perfect start inside two minutes. A clever ball released Willo, whose instinctive toe poke looked destined for the corner until the Farsley keeper reacted sharply to guide it past the post.

The Azzurri continued to enjoy plenty of possession without creating too many clear cut opportunities. Cable tried his luck with a low drive that skimmed across the surface but was comfortably gathered, while the visitors reminded us they were still in the contest when a shot sailed high and wide.

The best chance of the remainder of the opening half hour arrived in the 19th minute. Carrington picked out Willo with a well weighted pass, only for the Farsley stopper to produce another excellent one handed save to deny the forward.

Willo remained at the heart of Azzurri attacking play, bending a curling effort towards goal that was safely held.

Farsley had the ball in the net on 30 minutes, but the flag was raised for an offside so obvious that the forward had to pay to get back in.

The breakthrough finally arrived 8 minutes before the interval. Kilner threaded an excellent pass into Wright, whose inviting cross was met by a full length diving header from Cable to send the Boys in Blue into a deserved 1-0 lead.

Cable nearly doubled both his tally and Frickley’s advantage moments later, but this time his effort rolled inches past the upright.

Wright then tested the goalkeeper from a free kick just before the break. HT 1-0

The second period began with Edjangue comfortably collecting a speculative long range effort before both goalkeepers were called into action in quick succession. Cable was denied after being picked out by Willo, and almost immediately Farsley raced upfield, only for Edjangue to match his opposite number with a routine save of his own.

Radz headed wide from a corner before Willo and Cable both tried their luck from distance without troubling the scoreboard.

The decisive second goal arrived in the 56th minute and it was worth the wait. The ball fell to Willo just outside the penalty area before unleashing a superb strike that flew into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

Cable remained a lively outlet throughout and delivered a teasing cross that just evaded Andrew, on as sub, before Carrington produced an impressive run and cut back only to see Andrew lift his shot over the crossbar. A looping delivery from Cable then found Roberts, another sub, whose header rippled the side netting.

Farsley continued to battle and fashioned a couple of late openings, firing one effort wide before Edjangue claimed another attempt following a swift counter attack to preserve the clean sheet. FT 2-0.

It was another encouraging afternoon for Frickley. A solid defensive display, 2 well taken goals and another valuable workout ensured preseason ended on a high. The warm up is complete, and attention turns to the fixtures that really matter. Next stop, competitive football. Here we go…

WEBMASTER MOTM – we played some good looking football, got a cleano and won the game, so not a bad afternoon’s work. Bailey Wright  was ever spritely and deserved his assist. The back 4 and Harold E were solid and quick to recover when breached. Luke Carrington was impressive in the engine room and was a decent foil for Joel Spence until the skip showed his versatility by playing at right back for over half an hour. However, the Glitterball goes jointly to the 2 goalscorers, Sam Cable and Luke Williams. Beyond the goals though,  they took the game to the opposition. Parfait, chaps!

144 through the gate. Thank you for your dedication in preseason – I think you’re all match fit now!

And thanks to The Groundhopping Owl for the accompanying picture.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 25th July when Keighley United are our visitors for the first league game of the 2026/27 NCEL season, 3pm kickoff. Yeah, baby! Hope to see you all there….