Frickley Athletic v Penistone Church

Recap

Frickley 2 Penistone Church 4

After a lightning start by The Blues, the visitors stepped up a gear in the second half. Hitting on the break at crucial times carried Church to a 4-2 win.

The Azzurri were unchanged from last week’s defeat against Campion.

The Blues flew out of the blocks with an opener inside 3 minutes. The ball was played in to Williams, he cut inside, beating his man, before sticking it right on Varley’s head and you know the rest.

Varls almost had a second within a minute when Church’s keeper scuffed his clearance straight to Varls but his shot was deflected wide.

Less than 3 minutes later, Penistone were level, charging forward and squaring to an unmarked attacker who slotted in from 18 yards.

Things calmed down a bit as the next 20 minutes saw each side put an attempt over or wide.

On 32 minutes, Penistone sliced through the Blue back four and rattled the bar with a shot.

The Blues went close to opening up the Church defence on a couple of occasions without quite getting the run of the ball that their hard work deserved. Some nice pressing by Gilly and Sutton ended with Spence lifting the ball over the bar and Varls galloped through then also shot over. The keeper had to be on his toes to take Zav’s floating effort just under the crossbar.

Adam Hewitson made sure that the opposition didn’t nick anything in the run in to half time with a great save with his legs. HT 1-1.

Gilly had an early header saved before Church scored a breakaway goal. A run, a cross and a straightforward finish gave them the lead in the 53rd minute.

7 minutes on and that lead was doubled with an own goal. A couple of hacks at the ball ended with it in the back of our net. The unwitting final touch was Jack Cairney’s, though he couldn’t have known much about it.

The Azzurri redoubled their efforts. The ever lively Williams got the ball past the keeper but the defender put it behind.

Keano finished a promising move with a pea-roller but the lack of power allowed the keeper to field it comfortably. Williams also picked up the loose ball after a wayward shot by Gilly, and dinked it against the post.

In the final 10, Penistone shaved the outside of the post with a toe poke. And Hewitson was alert to further danger as he touched a first Penistone shot onto the upright and smartly stopped another.

With 2 minutes left on the clock, Sutton had a potshot and a Penistone defender put a leg out, diverting it past his own keeper. So another oggy reduced the arrears to a single goal.

However, the visitors were miserly, denying us a barnstorming finish and the possibility of a draw by scoring. They restored their 2 goal advantage almost immediately from the kickoff.

The Blues didn’t go down without a fight and Varley struck the woodwork, deep into time added on, but the die was already cast. FT 2-4.

Until half time and again at the back end of the game we had spells where we looked good but that 15 minutes after the break did for us. We go again on Tuesday!

WEBMASTER MOTM – plenty of decent performances out there. Will Sutton was Mr Versatile on the wing and at fullback again. Harley McCormack played his percentages well. Joel Spence was dogged. Adam Hewitson kept the score down with his usual strong showing. And a word for Reuben Brewin-Hawkins coming on again to put himself about up front. But the Glitterball is a joint one and goes to Jack Varley and Luke Williams. Captain Jack was captivating, courageous and ceaseless and Willo The Wisp simply left the opposition chasing shadows.

TWITTER MOTM – The final result won’t be in till teatime tomoz coz I forgot to reset the duration BUT currently Jack Varley looks like taking it from Luke Williams, Adam Hewitson and Joel Spence. I’ll amend if that changes. Thanks to all who voted/will vote.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Luke Williams was chosen by John Powney. Well done, Willo!

205 through the gate. Thank you for your super support.

To hear the thoughts of the Gaffer, James Baxendale, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Tuesday, 3rd September, when we travel to Barton Town, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD