Recap

Barton Town 2-0 Frickley

After keeping it tight for the first 45 minutes, a pair of second half Barton goals downed The Blues on a frustrating afternoon at Winterton, as both sides finished with 10 men.

Les Bleus had the first real opportunity inside 6 minutes when Joel Spence powered forward before squaring for Sam Cable, whose effort went wide. A minute later, Cleggy saw his shot deflected behind after a cross had picked him out.

Barton had a chance from a free kick in the 9th minute, heading over. Then the home keeper had to produce an excellent save 2 minutes later, to deny Spence after the loose ball fell to him, pushing the shot around the post.

The hosts then began to turn the screw, with Allinson holding onto a couple of long range shots before Barton flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal without finding a finishing touch.

A super Allinson stop was required in the 22nd minute as he got down smartly to keep out a low, skidding effort at full stretch.

On 25 minutes, Barton put the ball in the net, but the flag was raised for offside, although the forward was so far gone that it was a decision that didn’t really require the benefit of VAR.

The Azzurri continued to be menacing on the break, with Liam Flanagan nipping in behind his man in the 27th minute and sliding the ball across goal, although there were no Blue shirts on hand to convert it.

The home side headed wide from a free kick before seeing another effort deflected behind, then headed over from the resulting corner.

Kilner was booked in the 35th minute for a foul that looked remarkably similar to a Barton challenge which, 30 seconds earlier, had resulted in nothing more than a talking to.

Flan kept the Barton keeper on his toes with a free kick, while a moment of uncertainty between the keeper and his defence in the 41st minute almost presented Spence with an opportunity, although his long range attempt went wide.

Jenko and Dacre then had to combine with a pair of perfectly timed tackles to snuff out another Barton attack as the teams went into the interval goalless. HT 0-0.

The Blues were straight at it from the restart. Flan’s 46th minute cross was intended for Cable, only for a defender to get a crucial touch with his head to flick the ball millimetres over Sam’s Napper.

Cable then tried his luck from around 25 yards but couldn’t keep it down.

The goal Barton had threatened arrived in the 56th minute. They played the ball across the Frickley area before slotting away with a drive back across Allinson, despite his getting a hand to it.

The Azzurri didn’t give up, winning 2 corners in quick succession, but neither produced the desired outcome.

Gadge, Cable and Willo combined nicely in the 63rd minute, with Willo attempting an ambitious overhead kick that sailed over the bar. 5 minutes on and good work from Flan created another opening for Spence, but his drive went wide.

Cable then almost escaped the Barton defence in the 69th minute, only to lift his shot over, under heavy pressure from a defender.

The game then took a dramatic turn as Josh Dacre was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute for a perceived elbow, even though the Barton player got straight back up once the card was awarded.

In a surprising turn of events, the numbers were level again just 3 minutes later when the Barton goalkeeper was also dismissed for a straight red after poleaxing Flan just outside the box.

Once one of the Barton centre halves had donned the gloves, Flan took responsibility for the resulting free kick but sent it narrowly over.

Allinson was called into action again in the 77th minute, making a good save low at his near post. And Barton headed wide before firing another shot off target.

Carmody, Andrew and Roberts were introduced for Clegg, Willo and Price, with Carrigan also coming on for Flan as The Azzurri looked for a route back into the contest.

Instead, Barton protected their stand in keeper well and doubled their advantage in the 82nd minute, when a cross from the left was met by a close range header.

Allinson remained determined to keep the deficit at 2, standing firm to push out a Barton effort in the 88th minute.

Deep into stoppage time, Jenko slipped on the greasy surface, allowing Barton break clear, but Harry Gagen produced a remarkable recovery tackle to prevent a third goal. FT 2-0.

There can be no question about the effort from Les Bleus, but this was simply one of those afternoons when the inspiration failed to match the perspiration. We’ve had better days. Next time, eh?

WEBMASTER MOTM – there were plenty of performances worthy of note. Lloyd Allinson made some crucial saves. Josh Dacre was dogged until he got his marching orders, and Sam Kilner and Harry Gagen were equally determined. Charlie Clegg and Sam Cable were hard running. And Liam Flanagan was indefatigable. But the Glitterball goes to Will Jenkinson. Robust in the tackle and he played his percentages well. Jawohl, Jenko!

TWITTER MOTM – Harry Gagen takes it from Will Jenkinson, Liam Flanagan and Sam Cable. Sam Kilner also polled votes. Thanks to all who voted.

SUPPORTERS’ MOTM – Liam Flanagan was chosen by Mick Lomax. Well done, Flan!

145 through the gate, with many from the Outer Colonies of SESKU. Thank you for travelling o’er land and sea to support The Boys in Blue.

To hear the thoughts of the gaffer, Martyn Woolford, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 5th September when Handsworth are our visitors to The Wezzie, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD