Recap

Frickley 1 Sheffield 3

The Blues were edged out 3-1 by a Sheffield side in the league’s top 3, after a hard fought contest played in dreadful conditions. Driving rain, swirling wind and patches of standing water made fluid football a challenge throughout the evening. But The Blues refused to wilt and produced a determined display in front of the brave 208 souls in attendance.

Les Bleus threatened early despite the elements. On 2 minutes, a teasing delivery from Robbo found Cable, but he could only graze his effort as a defender recovered to shepherd the ball back to his keeper. 2 minutes later, another dangerous Robbo cross was only partially cleared, dropping to Carmody, whose first time strike just cleared the bar.

For the next 25 minutes, the weather itself was proving the dominant force, disrupting rhythm and making control difficult for both sides. Still, The Blues pressed, and on 30 minutes Robbo nicked possession from a defender and drove forward, only to see his shot blocked and cleared. From the resulting throw in, he was bundled over inside the area, but appeals were waved away.

Shortly after, in the 32nd minute, Robbo again caused problems with a cross that was caught by the wind and drifted over the bar.

The deadlock was broken against the run of play to that point by the visitors. Booth produced a fine initial save in the 34th minute, yet Sheffield capitalised from the resulting corner, a scuffed shot that Booth got his hands to giving them the lead.

The Boys in Blue continued to battle, but deep into first-half stoppage time, a string of defensive mishaps allowed Sheffield a simple tap in, doubling their advantage going into the break. HT 0-2.

After half time, The Azzurri regrouped and showed more presence and resilience.

In the 50th minute, Booth had to react sharply to get down low and keep out a Sheffield effort from a corner, before calmly dealing with a low, skidding strike in the 59th minute.

Changes came as The Azzurri looked for a route back into the game. Cable nearly broke through on 63 minutes, but a recovering defender denied him at the crucial moment. In the 71st minute, he tried his luck again, signing off by flicking a shot over the bar before making way for Cleggy.

Sheffield remained a threat from set pieces, heading wide from a corner on 75 minutes.

Les Bleus didn’t roll over, and on 81 minutes a neat exchange between Robbo and Cleggy ended with the latter crossing back, but Robbo couldn’t generate the power needed and the effort was comfortably held.

The breakthrough The Azzurri deserved finally arrived in the 83rd minute. Robbo drove past a defender, saw his initial shot blocked, but reacted quickest to fire home at the second attempt, halving the deficit, giving both his teammates and the crowd a modicum of hope.

However, the response was immediate and cruel. In the 85th minute, Sheffield restored their 2 goal cushion as ex-Blue Luke Mangham headed home from a cross.

A minute later, Booth produced another save, and the visitors dragged the rebound wide.

The Azzurri didn’t let their heads drop and kept going until the very end, despite the conditions and the scoreline, but to no further avail. FT 1-3.

There was no shame in that result as The Boys in Blue gave it a proper go against highflying opposition in extremely testing circumstances. If we show that sort of fight in our last 2 games then we won’t go far wrong.

WEBMASTER MOTM – it took some grit just to put up with the literal storm, so to play as well showed considerable fortitude. Harry Viggars lived up to his name and harried vigorously and Sam Kilner was everywhere. Lucas Robinson made it an even more torrid evening for the opposition defence and Harry Carmody had his best game in a Blue shirt. And the rest never took a backward step. But I’m giving the Glitterball to Sam Cable. It was the The Cable Guy’s  first start since his injury almost 4 months ago, and he gave us over 70 minutes of hard running and threat. Salutations, Sam!

TWITTER MOTM – Lucas Robinson takes it from Harry Viggars, Sam Cable and Sam Kilner. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Harry Viggars was chosen by Ty Jowett of Pixel Photography. Well done, Viggs!

208 through the gate. We thank you for braving the elements to support The Azzurri on a very wet and windy Tuesday night. Dedication right there!

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

To see the full photo gallery by Pixel Perfect Photography, click here.

To see the matchday programme, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 28th March when we travel to Rossington Main, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD