Frickley Athletic v Hallam FC

Recap

Frickley 0 Hallam 6

After holding off bogey team Hallam for much of the first half, the wheels came off in the second. We can have no complaints about the defeat but 3 second half penalties ensured that the scoreline flattered the visitors a little more than it should’ve done.

There were 5 changes to the side from Wednesday. Cawthorn, Guilfoyle and Clegg returned to the starting lineup. And new signings Danny Wombwell and Mason Booth made their first starts. Brooky, Haighy and Chippy returned to the bench, joined by RBH, back from injury, and 3rd new signing, Niall Butchart.

Playing down the hill, The Blues started brightly and were on top for almost 20 minutes. The best of the chances were a Gilly shot from distance and when Varls teed up Spence, his deflected shot forced the keeper (ex-Blue Hugo Warhurst) to scramble to get hold of it.

But in the 19th minute, the visitors took the the lead against the run of play at that point. Unsurprisingly perhaps, it came from a set piece, our Achilles heel at present. A free kick on the right was pushed away by Hewitson, dropped to a Hallam foot and their wayward shot was put in at the back post by the number 11.

Soon after, Hewitson made a save at full stretch, stopping a potshot flying into the top corner. And Hallam did manage to put the ball in the net but, despite their protestations, the liner had signalled offside well before the ball was struck.

Shortly after the half hour, Gilly went on a lovely run but couldn’t find Cleggy who was ghosting in at the front post.

Hallam had a shot go well over. Then 4 minutes into time added on at the end of the half, Gilly left ex-Blue Danny South for dead but the keeper, Warhurst, saved well. HT 0-1.

Whether it was improved effort or merely gravity pulling them down the slope, Hallam were pushing to increase their advantage and give themselves a margin of safety from the restart. A Hallam forward blazed over from close range and they whipped a dangerous ball across the face of goal that evaded everyone. And Hewitson had to stop with his legs and catch a header from a corner.

Hallam nerves were settled with 3 goals in 8 minutes. In the 55th minute, a ball over the top found their number 11 unmarked and he slotted it in from the edge of the box.

On 58 minutes, ball over the top again, Hallam’s number 11 pushed it around the keeper and dived over Hewitson’s knee after he had planted his foot. Penalty awarded. The number 11 got up to put it away himself and complete his hat trick

5 minutes on, and Hewitson made a good stop, low down, but the ball came back to the Hallam number 11. Booth put the boot in and the ref pointed to the spot for a second time. The number 10 stuck it in this time.

The same Hallam number 10 was soon to correctly receive a yellow card for a blatant dive in the area.

Not to be denied though, the said number 10 weaved his way through before netting a fifth goal for the visitors in the 76th minute.

Into the last 10 and both Brooky, on as sub, and Boothy made last ditch tackles to prevent number 6.

But not for long as, with 6 minutes to go, a Hallam forward appeared to step on a land mine in our box. Another soft penner given. Duly dispatched by one of the subs. 3 penalties scored by 3 different players – you don’t see that every day.

In the last minute, The Azzurri demonstrated the sort of bodies-on-the-line defending that might have been more useful some minutes earlier, making 3 blocks in quick succession. FT 0-6.

Well, that was our biggest home defeat since losing 7-1 to Whitby Town in October 2002. So it’s safe to say we’ve had better second halves then. But we take our medicine, dust ourselves off and, damn it, we’re Frickley, we go again next time!

WEBMASTER MOTM – looking for positives, heads dropped but no one gave in. On the 3 debutants, Mason Booth definitely had his moments, Danny Wombwell was constantly looking to get on the overlap and Niall Butchart showed potential. Zav, Gilly and the 2 Jacks (H and C) refused to quit. And a shout for Adam Hewitson who made some crucial saves. However, I’m giving the Glitterball jointly to the dogs of war – Cleggy, Keano, Varls and Joel 90. None of them took a backwards step. Bob on, bros!

TWITTER MOTM – Charlie Clegg takes it from Keanan Mannings, Mason Booth and Danny Wombwell. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Mason Booth was chosen by one of the interim gaffers, Jack Varley, for keeping going for the full 90 on debut. Well done, Boothy!

280 through the gate. Thank you for your wonderful support and for staying till the very end!

To hear the thoughts of one of the caretaker gaffers, El Binno, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 2nd November, when we travel to North Lincolnshire to face Winterton Rangers, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD