Recap

Frickley 5 Rossington Main 1

The Moz & Meynell revolution continued apace as The Blues produced a magnificent display to come from behind and register a resounding victory over Rossington Main.

After a cagey opening, The Blues fashioned the first opportunity in the 7th minute when Lloydy delivered a teasing cross towards Grist, whose volley was lashed into the side netting.

However, it was Rossington who struck first, Harold turning Guilfoyle’s free kick around the post before the resulting corner brought the opening goal in the 15th minute. A Rosso header took a deflection off a teammate and ended up in the net.

The Boys in Blue responded well, with Cable volleying towards goal in the 19th minute, although the visiting keeper appeared fortunate to get enough behind the ball to keep it out.

But no matter, The Azzurri were level 7 minutes later. Grist picked out Cable, who showed excellent composure to deftly lift the ball over the advancing keeper from 20 yards. It was a sumptuous finish of real quality and gave Los Azules the platform to push on.

A Radz header caused considerable confusion in the Rossington defence in the 31st minute, earning a corner from which Lloydy saw his attempt deflected behind. Another set piece nearly paid dividends when Cable hooked a Lloydy free kick narrowly over the crossbar in the 39th minute.

The pressure told 2 minutes later. Jenko’s free kick found Dacre inside the penalty area, where he brought the ball under control before unleashing a fierce finish past the keeper to put The Blue Machine ahead.

There was still defensive work to do before the interval, Grist producing a powered header to clear a Rosso corner. The visitors subsequently found the net, but the celebrations were cut short by an infringement, with a foul and offside both in the frame. So it was that The Blues went into the break with a deserved 2-1 lead. FT 2-1.

The Azzurri were out for the second period early, chomping at the bit to get back into the tussle. But it was the Frickley stopper who was called into action shortly after the restart, Harold punching a cross away at full stretch in the 48th minute.

Spence then received a yellow card in an incident that seemed to offer little cause for such punishment, but Frickley remained focused on extending their advantage.

We did precisely that in the 54th minute. Grist delivered a ball into the box which Cable headed down for Dacre. The big centre half controlled it before smashing home his 2nd goal of the afternoon, repeating his earlier clinical finish and give a 2 goal cushion.

Rosso had the ball in the net again in the 61st minute, only for the offside flag to rule it out.

Walker replaced Evans-Booth as The Blues looked to maintain the momentum, and the substitute soon crossed for Cable, whose scuffed attempt failed to trouble the keeper in the 70th minute.

Harold comfortably gathered another Rosso effort 2 minutes later, while Cleggy was unable to capitalise on a promising opening at the other end.

Further changes saw Price and Cable introduced for Humphreys and Cleggy, with the latter reaching the landmark of 100 appearances for Frickley in the process. (Huge congrats from all at the club, Cleggy!)

Cleggy nearly marked the occasion with a goal in the 75th minute. Walker galloped forward before squaring for Humphreys, who laid the ball into Cleggy’s path, but the keeper got behind his shot.

Wright subsequently replaced Lloyd, followed by Love coming on for Jenko.

Grist came close to adding a fourth in the 83rd minute, curling an attempt inches wide. 3 minutes later, however, he produced a moment worthy of settling any contest. The Rosso custodian came out to challenge Walker for a high ball, but the loose ball bounced towards Grist, who, from around 25 yards, flicked it back over the stranded stopper with the outside of his boot. The ball sailed into the net to make it 4-1, with a goal that combined awareness, audacity and exquisite technique.

There was still time for one more. In the 90th minute, a ball over the top found Wright, who lifted it into the path of Cleggy. Frickley’s answer to David Fairclough (google him, kids) nodded home to complete the rout and cap his 100th appearance in the perfect fashion. FT 5-1.

What. A. Performance! Recent changes and additions proved their worth as we found the cutting edge we’ve been looking for, and scored 5 goals at home in a league match for the first time since beating Carlton Town 6-0 in April 2019. Don’t know about you but I can’t bloody wait for the next runout…

WEBMASTER MOTM – miserly at the back, relentless in midfield and sharp up top. Harold Edjangue never looked flustered, Tom Radley and the goal machine Josh Dacre were colossi, Sam Kilner and Will Jenkinson were so cool they didn’t break sweat, and Checkpoint Charlie Price wasn’t giving anyone a idle second on the ball. Shay Evans-Booth and Lloyd Smith pulled defenders all over and made the space for Sam Cable and Keelan Grist to prowl around like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park. And just when the opposition thought the torment was easing, Henley Walker, Jack Humphreys, Bailey Wright and Charlie Clegg came on to continue the torture. However, the Glitterball goes to Joel Spence. Imperious on the ball and industrious off it. Summat else that, Skip!

VOLUNTEERS’ MOTM – Josh Dacre was chosen by a majority of the Blues volunteers at the game. Well done, JD!

287 through the gate – the biggest attendance of the day in the NCEL Premier Division and the biggest for a game played on the surface God intended in the entire NCEL! We thank you for your next level support!

To hear the reflections of Joel Spence and Charlie Clegg, the pair of legends who have just reached 100 appearances for the club, click here.

To hear the thoughts of the assistant gaffer, Rhys Meynell, click here.

To see the matchday programme, click here.

with thanks to Chris Lewis for the accompanying picture.

The Blues are next in action on Tuesday 20th October when we travel to Nostell MW for our Sheffield Senior Cup 3rd round tie, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD