Goole AFC v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Goole 2 Frickley 4    (NCEL League Cup)

It was somewhat closer than last time we were in Goole but The Azzurri comfortably chalked up a 4-2 victory – a first ever win in the NCEL League Cup – on a chilly evening in East Riding.

On the teamsheet, Keegan Townrow came into the starting XI to replaced the injured Varls and new signing Calum Proctor was on the bench.

The opening 10 minutes or so were a midfield affair without much going on in the final third for either side. The main talking point being a nasty tackle on Rip by the Goole number 8 that went unpunished.

In the 12th minute The Elk put in a dangerous cross, cleared by the Goole defence for a corner. Lloydy sent his corner right into the mixer for Townrow to steam in and stick away.

The lead lasted less than 10 minutes as Goole’s number 8, who was very lucky to still be on the pitch, scored with a volley from 20 yards. That was the first goal we’d conceded in one minute under 6 hours of play.

Around the half hour mark, Keano was causing havoc in the Goole box with his long throws. The Goole keeper (Goole joint boss Paddy Kenny’s son, no less) had to save from his own defender. And Townrow flicked one on for Big Al to poke towards goal only for Goole to scramble it away.

10 minutes on and The Blues had about 8 shots in the space of 30 seconds. Lloydy’s was the cleanest, saved by the keeper’s feet.

On the stroke of half time, Goole lobbed Bradders but cleared the bar too. HT 1-1.

Frickley started the second half with a shot that was deflected, bouncing and spinning agonisingly wide.

In the 55th minute, Goole’s ex-Blue Szymon Czubik broke through but stumbled on the ball when 1 on 1 with Bradders. Chance gone.

3 minutes later and Lloydy scored our goal of the game, picking up the ball near the byline, cutting inside and rifling the ball under the keeper for his 5th goal in 4 games.

Almost straight from the restart, Big Al was going nowhere but the defender brought him down in the area. Big Al jumped up to slot home the penner and give us breathing space.

In the 71st minute the game was effectively ended as a contest when Richard Collier hit a rasping shot that the keeper could only parry away and Townrow tapped in the rebound for his second of the night and 4th of the season.

With 10 minutes to play, tired legs allowed Czubik to round the keeper and put the ball into an empty net to narrow the advantage to two goals.

Goole continued with their best spell of the game as they shot wide when it was easier to hit the target and forced a couple of decent saves out of Bradders.

The game was a feisty one to say the least, not helped by some very lenient officiating, but descended into farcical scenes late on as a heavy challenge on Bradders left him in a heap on the floor. In the resulting fracas, the red mist descended on ex-Premier League keeper Paddy Kenny and he ran on to the field of play to lay hands on a Frickley player. FT 2-4

Goole were always going to pose more of a challenge than that offered in our 8-0 win against them a few weeks ago. However, we stood up to their heavy handed tactics to move into the next round of the cup. That’ll do nicely.

WEBMASTER MOTM – another performance where we collectively toughed it out and scored more well worked goals. Keegan, goalscorer and goal stopper, was superb, as was Brandon. Bradders continues to play with a maturity beyond his years. And Lloydy and Big Al are a truly formidable strike force, with well over 30 goals and assists between them so far this season already. But I’m giving the Glitterball jointly to the whole of our midfield – Rip, Jamesy, Keano and The Colonel. They were creative and they went toe to toe with their Goole counterparts. Marvellous, maestros!

TWITTER MOTM – Lloyd Smith takes it from Keegan Townrow, Brandon Murillo and Keanan Mannings. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Brandon Murillo was chosen (for a second consecutive game) by Ian Clarkson. Well done again, BMDub!

215 through the gate, with a goodly percentage from WF9. Thanks for travelling all that way to follow your team!

To hear the thoughts of the manager, Pat McGuire, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 11th November when we are back at The Wezzie and Thackley are our visitors, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley