Barton Town v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Barton Town 4 Frickley 1

After a good start, four goals by the Waudby brothers sent The Blues to a disappointing defeat in the shadow of the Humber Bridge.

New (re)signing Richard Patterson, Big Al Keita and Alex Varley came (back) into the starting lineup whilst El Binno and Brandon Murillo moved to the bench. 

The Azzurri had an early flurry of crosses into the Barton box but no one could apply the coup de grace.

The Blues did take the lead on 10 minutes when Luke Skywalker intercepted an underhit back pass, rounded the keeper and slotted it into an empty net.

After The Boys in Blue had looked comfortable for the first 20 minutes, Barton sent a warning shot across the Frickley bows, forcing The Blues to clear a header off the line.

Then it did go Pete Tong as 2 home goals in 4 minutes swung the game firmly in Barton’s favour.

The first came from a 26th minute throw in on the right that wasn’t cleared and reached Barton’s Tom Waydby who volleyed in to equalise.

The second came from the other Waudby brother, Will, hitting a speculative shot from 20-odd yards that hit the bar, bounced down on the line and into the net, on the half hour mark.

The Barton pressure continued and Bradders made a great save  before the hosts spooned a shot well over. 

Lloydy looked to have levelled the game on the stroke of half time with a wickedly dipping free kick from 30 yards out. However, the keeper made a top stop, tipping the ball millimetres over the bar. HT 2-1.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were a cagey affair, with both sides probing for a gap. 

But just after the hour, Barton played a ball into the box, Tom Waudby received it in a suspiciously offside-looking position, closer to the Humber than to Barton, and had time to turn before firing low past Bradders to score.

Not long after, Lloydy was hauled down in the penalty area. Nothing given.

At the other end, Bradders made another good stop, pushing away a testing effort from distance.

Tom Waudby completed his hat trick for the home side in the 76th minute after Haighy clipped a Barton forward in the box. Penalty awarded. Waudby T. duly converted. 

In the final 10 minutes, Barton almost extended their lead further but their shot skimmed off the bar.

The last Frickley foray of the game was when The Elk flashed the ball across goal but no one could get a toe on it.

The ref delayed the inevitable by finding 8 minutes of time added on from who knows where but no further chances to make the scoreline more respectable were forthcoming. FT 4-1.

We weren’t outplayed. Barton had to employ delaying tactics and loudly appeal for every imagined infringement. However, we didn’t help ourselves, we’ve had better days, but we’re Frickley, we go again next time out! 

WEBMASTER MOTM – we were well in the game for an hour and had our moments but just didn’t make the most of them. Bradders made a couple of reflex saves, Haighy was decent for much of the game, Lloydy was unlucky not to come away with a goal and Skywalker was a handful. And it was good to see Patts back in a Frickley shirt. However, the Glitterball is a joint award and goes to Zak Kersey and Big Al Keita. Zak gave the fullback a torrid time in the first half, his best performance for us so far, and Big Al was a threat going forward and did more than his fair share of ratting in midfield. Chin-chin, chaps!

TWITTER MOTM – Zak Kersey takes it from Lloyd Smith, Josh Haigh and Big Al Keita. Zav Elkin also polled votes. Thanks to all who voted. 

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Zak Kersey was chosen by Joel Clarkson. Well done, Zak-attack!

145 through the gate, with a goodly contingent from the People’s Republic of SESKU. Thank you for travelling all that way to support the lads again!

To hear the thoughts of the assistant manager, Blake Campbell, click here. Thanks to Bailey and Blake for this coz the media team had to get home for the final of Strictly. Go Ellie!

The Blues are next in action on Tuesday 19th December when we travel to Nostell MW for our much rearranged Sheffield Senior Cup tie, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley