Barton Town v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Barton Town 1 Frickley 1

It was a game of 2 halves as The Azzurri took a hard-earned point at Barton. After having the home side under the cosh in the first half, we had to knuckle down and weather the storm in the second.

The Gaffer made 3 changes from the Penistone game. Keanan Mannings, Joel Spence and Harley McCormack were replaced by Reuben Brewin-Hawkins, Louis Thwaites and Jack Holden. And assistant boss Matt Flanagan and Josh Haigh were added to the bench.

Early doors, Sutton pulled the ball back for Thwaites but his venomous drive was deflected wide. Varls, Willo and Sutton all had digs themselves in very quick succession before Barton’s desperate defending cleared the decks.

Barton went close, heading narrowly wide of the upright. From the goal kick, The Blues took the ball straight down the other end for Sutton to thread a pass through to Guilfoyle in the 12th minute. Gilly proceeded to stick it in the corner from an acute angle that he had absolutely no right to score from.

Willo was fouled on the edge of the box (some would say ‘inside the box’ and ‘by the last man’) but the  free kick came to nought.

It wasn’t the last time Luke W would be on the end of some unsporting actions that would impede his progress. The Barton number 11, already on a yellow, badly mistimed a tackle to gave Willo airtime. Anyone else does that and it’s a yellow but the ref extremely leniently let him away with a word.

The two sides swapped half chances until the final moments of the half when Zav guided a ball inside to Gilly and the keeper had to push away a tricky shot. HT 1-0.

The hosts came out with their tails up after the break and levelled it on 55 minutes. RBH conceded a free kick wide on the left. Evading everyone, the resulting set piece was knocked in at the back post by who else but the aforementioned number 11 who should’ve been off.

Despite Barton keeping the pressure on, Willo and Tomlinson, on as sub, had a couple of shots comfortably fielded by the keeper, and Cairney’s diving header went just wide.

Notably, Josh Haigh came off the bench to make his 50th Frickley appearance. Well done, young ‘un.

With about 10 minutes to go, Barton hit the base of the post and the ball rolled along the line but Hewitson clawed it away. Those closer than I reckoned it had crossed the line but, for once, we got the decision. Maybe that was to make amends for the equaliser scored by someone who should’ve been off.

After Tommo was clearly fouled and nothing was given, Barton hit on the break, Hewitson saving smartly with his foot. Seconds later, Hewitson pushed the ball over and away from danger.

The Gaffer knew that we needed to steady the ship at this point so he sent on assistant boss Matt Flanagan to pour oil on troubled waters. It worked perfectly, and honours ended even. FT 1-1

It physically pains me to say it but a draw was probably a fair result. I’ll always take an away point and if you’d offered us the same at kickoff, I think we’d have settled for that.

WEBMASTER MOTM – That was a determined and characterful showing. HMS Ark Royal had 4 engines (fact!), and so did our midfield – Louis Thwaites, Golden Holden, The Elk and Captain Jack (also fact!). Adam Hewitson showed why we call him The Reflex. Jack Cairney can genuinely play. Brooky was quietly assured. Luke the Nuke had more tricks than Paul Daniels and Gilly was packing heat in them feet. Will Sutton was top notch with another assist to boot. And a word for the subs, Tommo stood up well to some rough treatment, congrats to Haighy on his 50th appearance for the club and Matt Flanagan showed those young guns how to play your percentages. But it was a Reuby Tuesday, so the Glitterball goes to Reuben Brewin-Hawkins. In his first start, RBH sacrificed himself, popping up to hold the fort in multiple positions. Right on, Reubs!

TWITTER MOTM – Will Sutton took it from Jack Varley, Reuben Brewin-Hawkins and Luke Williams. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Will Sutton was chosen by Mark Ainge. Well done, Will!

171 through the gate. Thank you for your amazing support, travelling all that way on a Tuesday evening and negotiating the road closures on the way back game too.

To hear the thoughts of Luke Williams and RBH, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday, 7th September, when we travel to Bottesford Town, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD