Pontefract Collieries F C v Frickley Athletic

Recap

The 400 & odd who turned out yesterday will have been hoping for a Xmas cracker – instead they got 2 average teams & a below average spectacle that would only tempt the fanatic or the foolhardy from their armchairs on any other given Saturday

The Ponte cohort will be the happiest as 2 second half goals – a mishit cross & a defensive fol de rol – gave them the 3 points

Yet another reshuffle due to COVID, injury & Danny Burns moving to Worksop saw Ben Morris fill in at right back & most notably saw Aidan Smith (more on him later) get drafted in at the 11th hour (literally & metaphorically) to cover for Chappers who is the latest COVID victim

Despite conceding 2, the defensive unit were strong again – our failings begin with how we transition from defence to attack & what we do with the ball once we get it forward. We cleared our lines umpteen times yesterday only for it to come straight back & there are very few defences that can cope with that constant pressure

They say it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the fight in the dog & at the minute our dog has eaten all the roast potatoes (as happened in our house on Xmas Day) & is laying on it’s bed waiting for something to happen. Well, it’s time to get off your bed & attack the postie (apologies to Graham Mears & all the other fine public servants dealing with our mail)

Here’s what the Gaffer had to say after the match

WEBMASTER MOTM – as I mentioned earlier, the defensive unit were the mainstay, it was good to have Beatson back & he linked up well with Nath Whitehead. Holli & Kegan did well in the engine room in the first half but we bypassed them a little in the 2nd half & Big Dev put himself about up top. But for me Ben Morris was the best outfield player on the pitch – did a great job as stand in right back, quality on the ball & composed off it. Then we have to talk about Aidan Smith – he only became a Frickley player at 11am yesterday morning – thank you to Nostell for allowing him to play. 19 years old, signed on the morning of the game, a big local derby, big crowd – didn’t put a foot wrong. Made some good saves, held his crosses well, kicking was on point. So I’m copping out again & giving a joint Glitterball to Moz & Smithy

TWITTER POLL MOTM – the public have spoken pretty emphatically! 316 votes (that’s 70% of everyone who attended……) & a massive chunk of those were for Aidan Smith. Also polling were Brad Beatson, Ben Morris & Big Dev. Thank you once again for voting

We try again on New Years Day – it’ll be anything but quiet as we host Worksop at the Everbuild Wezzie. Please come & support us in numbers & back the boys