Frickley Athletic v Liversedge

Recap

When money is no object & you’re top of the league you always seem to get the rub of the green

When you’re mid table & not so well resourced you don’t tend to get the rub of anything

To back up my completely made up statement, Gender Neutral Person Luck showed that they weren’t going to smile on us yesterday when in the first half the returning Nyle Blake hit the crossbar from an inswinging corner (2 inches lower & it’s a goal) & right on the stroke of half time new loanee signing Jack Gibson had a flick header that the away keeper made a finger tip save from (2 inches higher & it’s a goal)

The Azzurri (without the suspended Bomber Wells) gave it a right crack yesterday & gaffered the first half (you would have been hard pushed to know who was top of the table) but fell victim to a soft penalty award (I was on the lavatory at the time & didn’t see it so I can genuinely say that from where I was sitting it wasn’t a penner….) & a second goal shortly afterwards

Before the match we were honoured to have representatives of 23 Royal Air Force Air Cadets (Sergeant Allen & Cadet Emilie Perrin) & Yorkshire North & West Army Cadet Force South Elmsall Detachment (Cadet McPherson & Cadet Cullen) deliver the matchball for us & then lay wreaths in the centre circle at this time of Remembrance. Gordon the bugler (sorry Gordon I didn’t get your surname) then played The Last Post & we held a minutes silence. A very moving & poignant reminder of what has gone before….

If any young people out there are interested, the Royal Air Force Cadets meet & train at Minsthorpe College on Tuesdays & Fridays, 7pm start & the Army Cadets meet & train on Mondays & Thursdays – also at Minsthorpe also at 7pm.

Here’s what Big Daddy K thought of the game:

After dropping just 2 points this season, it was unsurprising that Sedge should take the spoils with a 2-0 win but Frickley put up a spirited fight..
The home side started well with a significant percentage of the play in the Liversedge half. Debutant Jack Gibson had an early shot that forced Sedge’s Jordan Porter to make a save. But Porter could only watch as the returning Nyle Blake hit the bar straight from a corner on the half hour mark. Ex-Blue Oli Fearon had Sedge’s first effort worthy of the name with a free header straight at Jordan Pierrepoint in the Frickley net, 10 minutes before the break. Then Gibson almost looped a header over Porter on the stroke of half time but the keeper got his fingertips to it.
The second period opened with Pierrepoint clawing away a wind-assisted Liversedge attempt from 50 yards out.
The next 15 minutes were attritional stuff in increasingly blustery conditions.
Then in the 62nd minute the referee awarded Sedge a penalty for what looked an 50-50 challenge in the box and Alfie Raw duly converted for the league leaders.
Jack Stockdill scored the second just 3 minutes later, slotting in through a sea of legs from 5 yards.
From then on Sedge looked content to sit on the lead and see it out in the knowledge that the points hadn’t come easily.

Back to me:

Although it’s a 2 nil defeat, it feels a little harsh on the boys. Jordan Pierrepoint hasn’t had a meaningful save to make all afternoon (though he dominated his box with a number of crosses that got caught up in a swirling wind). That’s life I guess….

WEBMASTER MOTM – the defensive unit were strong again, Holli & Kegan gave their usual displays in midfield & I like the look of Big Gib up top & he was ably supported by Kingy who had his best game in a blue (or green) shirt. But I’m a bit like a stuck record at the minute & I’m giving the Glitterball to Brad Beatson again. The stand in skipper was outstanding – there’s nothing fancy about what he does, he’s just an old school defender who does the basics very well. Break up the attack, pass to a team mate, break up the attack, pass to a team mate & repeat & repeat

TWITTER POLL MOTM – to reflect the great team effort, it was the tightest Twitter Poll I’ve ever seen with only 3 votes separating the top 4. Brad Beatson came out on top, followed closely by Kegan, Jack Gibson & Kingy. Holli & Joe Stacey also polled. Thank you to everyone who voted

211 through the gate – thank you to everyone who turned out to see The Azzurri – very much appreciated

Videos from the Gaffer & Joe Stacey to follow

Next up we make the short (especially for me) trip to Stocksbridge – it’ll be freezing so dress accordingly! No supporters coach for this one – get the snow tyres on your Ford Consuls