Frickley Athletic v Sheffield FC

Recap

Frickley 1 Sheffield FC 2

Sheffield continue to be one of our bogey sides, registering their first win of the season whilst we lost our fourth consecutive home game.

In team news, the only change from the Wisbech game was that James Hugo came into the starting eleven to replace the injured Kern Milller.

Sheffield made the early running but other than a 10th minute cross that was punched over the bar by Jackson Smith, their chances were at a premium. In fact, the better chances were ours as Ben Tomlinson and Nyle both had runs that forced the Sheffield defence into action before Margs had a gilt-edged opportunity on the half hour that he fired well over.

Shortly after, Margs attempted to catch the keeper out by shooting from 40 yards, but
Sheffield keeper, Jonathan Hedge, was equal to it. Less than 60 seconds later, in the 35th minute, Sheffield were ahead when dangerman Marc Newsham glanced a corner into the Frickley net.

Toddy Jordan couldn’t do the same for The Blues as he headed wide at a 39th minute corner so 0-1 it was at half time.

After the break, Nyle Blake steamed in on goal in the opening minutes but the defender went down easily and won the free kick.

It took until the 67th minute for the first real chance of note and it resulted in a goal. Margs latched onto a ball over the top, going one on one with the keeper, before slotting in the equaliser.

The Blues didn’t build on this platform and Sheffield gave notice that they weren’t finished when the sub got clear but blazed over in the 74th minute.

Five minutes later, Sheffield were awarded a free kick on the left hand edge of the box. Ted Cribley curled the ball in to the far corner of the net to regain the lead for his side.

In the final minutes, The Azzurri’s best opportunity to salvage a point fell to Ben Tomlinson who ran in behind the Sheffield defence but he hit his drive wide of the target from a narrow angle.

The Blues can have few complaints about this defeat. In a nutshell, Sheffield took their chances, both from set pieces – that’s 8 or 9 we’ve conceded from a set piece already this season – and we didn’t take ours.

WEBMASTER MOTM – Margs and Ben Tommo continued to be a threat up front but couldn’t convert that into the requisite number of goals to get something out of the game. Otherwise, it was largely the young guns, Charlie Barks, Kegan Everington, Fin Shrimpton and subs Josh Mclauchlan and Jack Wightwick, who held this performance together. And the Glitterball goes to another of their number, Nyle Blake, always looking to be positive and was in and amongst it all night. Cheers fella!

TWITTER POLL – Jonny Margs shaded it in a very close result. Josh Mclauchlan, Nyle Blake, Charlie Barks and Fin Shrimpton also polled. Thank you to everyone who voted.

As a footnote, Tyler Williams made his 100th league start for The Azzurri. Congrats!

220 through the gate. We thank you all for your continued support.