Recap

Bottesford Town 2 Frickley 2

The Blues stubbornly refused to lay down and put in a determined display to earn a valuable point at 2nd placed Bottesford Town, twice coming from behind to hold the hosts to a 2-2 draw.

The hosts threatened inside the opening few minutes when a shot on the turn took a deflection and went narrowly wide. The resulting corner saw Bottesford take a 5th minute lead in controversial circumstances. A corner was headed against the crossbar before the rebound was bundled over the goal line, ex-Blue Jack McMenemy getting the final touch. There were immediate shouts for handball and the linesman’s flag went up, but the goal was allowed to stand.

The Blues immediately looked for a way back into the contest and there was a strong claim for a penalty in the 7th minute when Grist was barged over inside the area, but the appeal was waved away.

The pressure was back on The Azzurri during a frantic spell, with a bout of penalty box pinball in the 9th minute eventually ending with The Boys in Blue hacking the ball to safety.

But The Blues were back in it in the 14th minute. Cable’s persistence earned a corner and what followed was a chaotic scramble inside the 6 yard box. Grist reacted quickest to stab it home from close range and restore parity on his 2nd debut.

Bottesford continued to see plenty of the ball, but Les Bleus were making life difficult for their hosts. Allinson produced an excellent save, pushing the ball around the post in the 27th minute, before Bottesford sent the resulting corner over the bar.

3 minutes later, the Ginger Neuer took a heavy challenge as he came to punch the ball away. Bottesford headed in but the ref had awarded the foul.

Allinson was again called upon in the 40th minute, getting down smartly to gather a low shot from the edge of the area.

The home side then benefited from a slip by Love on the artificial surface in the 42nd minute, but despite being afforded the opportunity to deliver into the box, Bottesford could only fire wide.

In the 44th minute, Grist hit an acrobatic volley which was deflected behind, and from the resulting corner his header went only inches wide. HT 1-1.

Bottesford regained the advantage 7 minutes after the restart. Allinson produced an absolutely stunning  save, pawing away what looked a certain goal, but the ball was recycled back into the danger area and McMenemy made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 2-1 with his 2nd of the game.

The Azzurri dug in to prevent the deficit getting any greater. A Bottesford free kick in the 61st minute created a melee in the box, but the ball was eventually forced clear.

The Blues made changes as Willo replaced Cleggy, and Flan coming on for Tom A, adding fresh legs to The Blues’ attempts to find another route back into the game.

Grist tested the Bottesford keeper from distance in the 73rd minute, seeing his 25 yard strike caught at full stretch.

Humphreys was then introduced for Grist, and the sub almost made an immediate impact when fellow replacement Flan cleverly lifted the ball over the defensive line in the 77th minute, but Humphreys was unable to quite get a toe to it.

But 2 minutes later, the 2 subs were instrumental in The Azzurri’s 2nd equaliser. Flan’s free kick picked out Dacre, whose initial attempt was blocked on the line. Humphreys reacted quickest to the rebound, poking it in from 3 yards and send the travelling Blues fans into delirious celebrations.

Bottesford pushed forward in search of the winner, but The Azzurri continued to throw bodies in the way. Allinson made another good save from a low shot in the 82nd minute.

At the other end, Humphreys robbed a defender before unleashing a shot from 20 yards which flew narrowly over the crossbar.

The closing stages became increasingly frenetic. Allinson was clattered in the 84th minute, sparking a mass confrontation between most of the players. The situation was eventually brought under control with both sides remaining at 11 men, which was not a given.

Bottesford curled an attempt wide in the 88th minute before Les Bleus almost snatched all the points as Price nearly broke clear in the 89th minute but could only feed the ball across to Flan, who lifted his shot over the bar.

Allinson had to make a brave dive at the feet of the Bottesford striker in the 1st minute of stoppage time. And in the 4th additional minute, a Bottesford corner lead to one final scramble inside the Frickley area, The Blues kept the ball out and the melee ended with the home team blazing over. Before the ball had landed, the final whistle was blown, and The Blues had secured a hard earned point. FT 2-2.

Given the hosts’ position in the table (they’d have gone top with a win) and the amount of possession they enjoyed, that was a top result. The Azzurri’s composure and refusal to surrender ensured a deserved share of the spoils as we became only the second team to do so at Bottesford in the league this season.

WEBMASTER MOTM – it was a tenacious collective resolve that limited the home side’s opportunities. Will Jenkinson, Sam Kilner, Liam Love, Charlie Clegg, Sam Cable and Joel Spence fought for every ball under extreme pressure. Keelan Grist bagged a goal, and he and Tom Alngohuru defended like demons. Lloyd Allinson kept us in it with his reflexes and bravery. Charlie Price was simply a warrior. And Liam Flanagan and Jack Humphries defined the term ‘impact sub’, starting and finishing the passage of play for our 2nd goal. However, for a second time in 5 days, the Glitterball goes to Josh Dacre. He was a defensive colossus and a calming presence as he organised those around him. Spirited stuff, JD!

VOLUNTEERS’ MOTM – Charlie Price was chosen by a majority of the Blues volunteers at the game. Well done, Charlie!

234 through the gate, with great numbers from The Fiefdom of SESKU. You were the 12th man, we thank you!

To hear the thoughts of the gaffer, Lee Morris, click here.

To see the photo gallery by Pixel Perfect Photography, click here.

And a huge congratulations and thanks from all at Frickley to the skipper Joel Spence who made his 100th appearance for the club against Bottesford. Cheers, Skip! #properfrickley

The Blues have no game next Saturday, so are next in action on Wednesday 14th October when we travel to manager Lee Morris’s former club, Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD