Frickley Athletic vs Kidsgrove Athletic

Recap

Frickley 0 Kidsgrove Athletic 0

We live in unprecedented times with the coronavirus outbreak causing all Premier League and Football League games to be postponed, along with the other two step 3 and 4 leagues. So as the NPL is one of the few carrying on at present, the crowd was swelled by those souls looking for their football fix.

Unfortunately, the 9th and 10th placed sides in the NPL SE at start of play couldn’t give them a goal, cancelling each other out in this stalemate at the Wezzie.

With Frecks unavoidably absent, it was Kyle O’Reilly and Damo Parkinson who took charge of affairs. The pack was shuffled as Tom Davie came into replace loanee Dylan Cogill who has been recalled by his parent club Farsley Celtic. Also, Kingy and Zeph returned to the bench. Otherwise, it was as you were on Tuesday night at Glossop.

The opening 25 minutes were a pretty cagey affair with opportunities at a premium. Tyler gave the away defence a torrid time but Oliver Jepson’s bar-skimming long range shot for Grove was the only real attempt of note.

Just before the half hour, Jepson hit a second stinging drive that Jacko did well to parry away for one of his defence to clear.

The game sprang to life a little in the last five minutes before the break.

First, Grove’s keeper struck his clearance into the onrushing Brad Wells but Wellsy couldn’t put away the loose ball. Then Regan Griffiths fired in a free kick from 30 yards out for the visitors but Jacko was equal to it as he turned it around the post. There was still time for a Kidsgrove header to be headed off the line by Wellsy. HT 0-0.

The second period started the same way as the first until the 60th minute when Wellsy combined with Margs to carve out an opening for Haze to smash straight at the keeper from a narrow angle. A few minutes later, a long Nyle Blake throw was flicked on by Wellsy, requiring a smart take by Kieran Harrison in the Grove net.

The Azzurri had the ball in the net in the 77th minute, thanks to a Tom Davie header, but was disallowed for a handball by Margs.

With 6 minutes to go, Rhys Thompson flashed a ball across goal for Kidsgrove but Ruben Wiggins-Thomas couldn’t get a touch on it. Jacko also made a point blank save from a Lee Williamson blast at goal, moments afterwards.

In injury time, The Blues looked to have a gilt-edged chance to win it when Margs was felled for what looked like a stonewall penner. Inexplicably, the ref awarded the free kick to Kidsgrove. Go figure. FT 0-0.

The performance wasn’t the relentless attacking football we’ve seen over the previous two games but in the end, a point apiece was a fair result against a physical Kidsgrove side. In taking 7 points from 9, with 8 goals scored, 1 conceded, and 2 clean sheets, we’ve had worse weeks.

Stat attack – this was the first nil-nil draw at home since 15th March 2016, a day short of four years ago, against Ashton United!

WEBMASTER MOTM – The ball never ran for Haze, Wellsy and Margs but it wasn’t for the want of effort. Similarly, Holli and Hotte were always in the thick of it. Kingy and Zeph were sound late replacements for Wellsy and Haze. Ultimately, the day was dominated by defences, Hughesy, Tom Davie and Brad Mc mopped up almost everything that came their way. Nyle Blake stuck to his defensive work doggedly on his home debut. On the rare occasions the back line was breached, TJ was there with the crucial stops to keep his 11th clean sheet for the club. However, the Glitterball goes to Tyler Williams, a threat when he got forward and didn’t put a foot wrong defensively. Absolute class, Ty!

TWITTER POLL MOTM – Twitter agreed with me (obvs) and Tyler took the honours with Tom Davie, who made his 50th appearance in a Blues shirt, in second. Brad Mc and Tom J also polled. Congrats to all and thanks to everyone who voted.

254 through the gate, the club thanks you all for your kind support in these unusual circumstances. And don’t forget to keep washing your hands, look out for each other and stay safe out there people.

We’re next in action on Tuesday night, 7:45pm ko, against Penistone Church in the Semi Final of the Sheffield Senior Cup, coronavirus-measures permitting (keep an eye on our social media for the latest updates).

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