Recap

Frickley 2 Handsworth 3

The Blues were beaten by the odd goal in 5 by Handsworth in an eventful encounter in which Les Bleus were left with too much to do after a difficult first half, despite a stirring late fightback.

The Azzurri could hardly have made a more promising opening. With less than 40 seconds played, Cleggy tested the Handsworth keeper with a powerful shot that will have stung his palms.

However, the visitors were gifted the opportunity to take the lead in the 6th minute when a Handsworth attacker appeared to be going nowhere before going down on the corner of the penalty area. A spot kick was awarded and duly dispatched by ex-Blue Luke Mangham to put his side a fortuitous goal up.

Los Azules responded immediately, Andrew forcing another save with a rasping drive a minute later, while Handsworth came close themselves in the 9th minute when a 25 yard effort struck the angle of post and crossbar.

The Boys in Blue were having their moments, but the visitors were making the most of theirs. In the 13th minute, Woolly attempted a volley, only for the ball to hit Cleggy on the back.

A second Handsworth goal followed just after.  From a corner, the visitors got rather more luck when a shot from just inside the box found its way through a forest of legs and into the Frickley net.

The Blues were then left frustrated yet again in the 29th minute. Andrew broke clear and was hauled down from behind, a stonewall penalty, but the referee inexplicably waved play on.

Spence tried his luck 2 minutes later, floating an effort narrowly wide, before Handsworth extended their advantage in the 38th minute when a cross was glanced into the bottom corner by a Handsworth head.

The Blues almost pulled one back before the interval, Andrew seeing his header pushed around the post, but the half time whistle arrived with The Azzurri 3 goals adrift. HT 0-3.

The second period brought a somewhat improved showing from Les Bleus.

Cleggy picked out Woolly in the 54th minute, but the resulting shot was blocked. There were appeals for handball, but once again nothing was given.

Radz was booked for a pull in the 61st minute, before some excellent work from Favour and Spence set up Andrew. His subsequent shot shaved the outside of the post as The Azzurri searched for a way back.

At the other end, Allinson was still busy. He made an important near post stop in the 67th minute and followed it with a superb flying fingertip save 4 minutes later to keep the deficit as it was.

The Blues made a series of changes, with Roberts, Gadge, Willo and Flanagan replacing Woolly, Cleggy, Price and Favour. And these rolls of the dice almost came off.

In a hectic spell of action in the 80th minute. Handsworth managed to get around Allinson, but Willo and Kilner combined to avert the danger. Almost immediately, Les Bleus broke forward and Flanagan found himself in a similar position, only for the Handsworth keeper to recover.

Allinson was called upon again a minute later, getting down well to keep out a low effort.

Then came a Blue breakthrough in the 82nd minute. Liam Flanagan produced a cool finish to finally give The Azzurri something to build on.

4 minutes later, the unlikely comeback gained further momentum. An Azzurri corner caused chaos in the Handsworth penalty area. Jenko and Gadge both saw digs at goal blocked before the ball fell to Roberts at the back post and his shot squeezed past the goalkeeper and defenders stationed on the line.

Suddenly, the visitors were hanging on. The Boys in Blue threw everything forward during the closing stages.

Unfortunately, the newly announced Annetsy Supporters’ Player of the Month, Sam Kilner, hobbled off with a knock from a crunching tackle on 90 minutes.

Deep into stoppage time, a succession of shots were blocked before Andrew headed over in the 94th minute. And Willo then saw another effort blocked a minute later, before Flanagan fired narrowly wide as the The Blues continued to press for an equaliser. But it wasn’t to be. FT 2-3.

We simply gave ourselves too much ground to make up after conceding 3 times before half time. But we have to cling to the character shown towards the end. The Blues came within a whisker of rescuing something from a seemingly lost cause, and that’s the positive to take forward.

WEBMASTER MOTM – the talent is there, just needs that bit more consistency, but the standouts included Allinson who made some crucial saves, Spence and Cleggy who were battlers and Woolly who rolled back the years as usual. Favour didn’t let anyone down either. And Williams, Flanagan and Jayden Roberts were live wires when they came on, and Flan and JR deserved their goals. But the Glitterball goes to Elliott Andrew. He lead the line well and did everything but score. Enthralling, Ells!

VOLUNTEERS’ MOTM – Sam Kilner was chosen by Jerry Wray. Well done, Sam!

183 through the gate. We thank you all for your loyal support through thick and thin!

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

To see the matchday programme, click here.

And thanks to Nortonpixman17 for the associated picture.

The Blues are next in action on Wednesday 9th September when we travel to Campion again, but for a league game this time, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD