Frickley Athletic v Irlam FC

Recap

As spectacles go, yesterdays game was a bit of a monocle – with all the action in the first half & the second half never really got going – but at 4pm if you’d told me that was going to happen I could have enjoyed it more. 2-1 leads can make you nervous but we had no need to fret as the defence held strong & gave Charlie Preston a largely untroubled 45 minutes – apart from getting a smack in the dial from a rogue bounce.

2 early efforts for the returning Green – 1st one went wide & the 2nd one was a much better effort that met with an equally good save. On 13 minutes we saw something rather special – the ball was played in & Keelan Grist met it with a peach of a drive from about 25 yards – top bins – 5 keepers wouldn’t have kept it out.

2 nil just before the half hour – lovely up set up play involving Burke, Grist & Green left Ice Cold Al Keita with a chance which he converted with the coolest of finishes….then had a selfie with the Ultras!

Just before half time we allowed Irlam back into it with a goal that we would have cleared on another day but then right on half time Green curled a sublime cross in but Keelan couldn’t get enough power behind his header.

2nd half saw us create a few chances – most noteworthy was a great team move to create a chance for Greeny which he pulled wide & Big Al making a chance out of nothing but he scuffed his shot

The giant Irlam forward got shown a red card – not sure why – got to admit when we saw him warming up before the game I expected an aerial barrage but it never materialised & the Murillo / Binns combo kept him out of the game

So it finished 2-1 & we take our place in the draw for the first round proper of the FA Vase

WEBMASTER MOTM – solid in defence again apart from a couple of squeaks & towards the end Jake Hemingway & Ben Hall were playing as wing backs. Once again it was midfield that won the game for us – breaking up their attacks & starting ours – we got what we expect from Kofi, The Colonel & Greeny (George could / should have opened his scoring account yesterday). Al Keita gave their defence headaches all afternoon but The Glitterball goes to Keelan – for a slender lad he has the superpower of being able to dump robust defenders on their backsides…….plus THAT goal. We’re trying to get hold of footage of both goals for you, watch this space….

TWITTER POLL MOTM – the fans have spoken! Keelan takes this one too, with George tucked in behind him & Big Al & Kofi in 3rd & 4th. El Binno & Rich Collier also polled votes. Thank you for voting

The Gaffers thoughts on the afternoon

Our first interview with Brandon Burke

195 through the gate – thank you to everyone for turning out to back the boys

Also special thanks to Darcie Bugge for being our guest of honour yesterday – we hope she enjoyed her day, it certainly looked that way when she was fist bumping all the players before the game! & thanks to Matt Foster – one of our USA supporters – for sponsoring yesterdays matchball, very much appreciated

Next up – a quick turnaround as we host North Ferriby at home on Tuesday. We are on a decent run at the moment so it would be great if you could get behind us again. Let’s have some big numbers up the Wez on Tuesday under the lights