Recap

Frickley 0 Campion 4

A harsh scoreline did little justice to The Azzurri’s performance as a frustrating afternoon against one of our perennial bogey sides unravelled in the final quarter of an hour.

The Blues started well and were on the front foot early. Ex-Blue Ben Bodle slipped inside the opening 2 minutes, allowing a foray forward by Tom A, although he scuffed the resulting cross. Then Jenko’s throw picked out Destiny, who laid the ball off to Woolly, but his effort lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

However, the game’s key moment came early and controversially. In the 7th minute, Campion’s number 7 appeared to control the ball with his hand before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner. Despite protests, the goal stood and we found ourselves behind, against the run of play.

The response was positive. Robbo flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal on 11 minutes with no one able to apply the finishing touch, before Woolly was presented with a gilt-edged chance moments later, going one on one with the keeper only to fire straight at him. And Radz went agonisingly close when his header from a corner was nodded off the line.

Much of the remainder of the first half was a physical, attritional battle in midfield, though The Azzurri continued to create the better openings. Tom A was played through on goal after good work from Robbo, only for play to be pulled back for a foul on the said Robbo, rather than advantage being applied.

Radz again caused problems from a set piece late in the half, heading back into the danger area from a corner before Campion scrambled clear. Thus it was that we went in a goal down, feeling we deserved more. HT 0-1.

The second period saw The Azzurri put the pressure on but we just couldn’t score. Destiny produced a trademark slaloming run in from the flank, drilling a dangerous ball across goal that was forced out for a corner. From the corner, Radz’s aerial threat was evident again as his header was flicked over.

Campion did have a moment of their own when a scramble saw the ball strike the post and roll along the line, only for Kilner to track it until Sykesy had it safe in his grasp.

More chances fell the way of The Azzurri. Destiny robbed a defender and feinted past two more before unleashing a shot with the outside of his boot effort that went inches over. Tom A followed with two shots in quick succession, one blocked and the other held, as frustration grew.

Substitutions were made in search of a breakthrough, with Love, Butch and Andrew introduced.

Destiny forced a decent save with a fierce volley on 75 minutes. Yet, as The Blues looked to chase the equaliser, inevitable gaps opened up at the back. Campion capitalised, striking the killer blows with 3 goals in 10 minutes.

A Campion cross into the box was met with a header on 78 minutes to double the visitors’ lead, a sucker punch after sustained Frickley intensity.

The game slipped away rapidly thereafter. A low finish into the bottom corner made it 3-0 with 6 minutes remaining, before a defensive/goalkeeeping error allowed a Campion substitute to run through unchallenged and tap into an empty net late on.

Destiny blazed over in the closing seconds, summing up an afternoon where nothing quite fell our way. FT 0-4.

For much of the contest, we were the better side, but a highly contentious opener and a loose spell at the death proved decisive. To paraphrase the song, we need to accentuate the positives and eliminate the negatives, and go again next time.

WEBMASTER MOTM – it was the result that was disappointing, not the performance. Gadge and Kilner were committed, Woolly and Spence were non-stop, and Robbo and Tom A were selfless. And a force of nature, Destiny was mercurial. But the Glitterball goes to Tom Radley. He was peerless in the air and no-nonsense on the deck. Rad, Radz!

TWITTER MOTM – Tom Radley takes it from Martyn Woolfoord, Joel Spence and Destiny Ifeanyi Nnenanua. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Destiny Ifeanyi Nnenanua was chosen by Aidy Stevens! Well done, D!

204 through the gate. Thank you for coming out to support The Blues on such a chilly old day!

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

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

To see the matchday programme, click here.

The Blues are next in action in 2026 on Tuesday 27th January Liversedge are our visitors to The Wezzie for our NCEL League Cup Quarter Final tie, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD