Goole AFC v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Goole 0 Frickley 3

The Azzurri restored some pride with a fighting performance and a 3-0 triumph at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds, recording our first win in 8 games in the process.

There were 2 changes from last week with Guilfoyle and Clegg coming in for Brewin-Hawkins and Tomlinson. New signing Marcel Chipamaunga was added to the bench.

There wasn’t a minute gone when Gilly’s shot was deflected wide then he hits the outside of the post from the second of the two corners won at this point.

Cawthorn flicked The Elk’s cross goalwards but it was smartly saved. Goole then had an opportunity in the 15th minute but dragged it wide.

Goole’s custodian had to be alert to push away Varley’s angled shot after some neat interplay had freed him to run through.

The Blues continued to pressure the home goal as Zav’s throw found Cawthorn who headed into the side netting.

Keen to get in on the act, Sutton crossed and Cleggy’s diving header went just wide but was offside too.

There was a slight lull in play before a flurry of activity in the final minutes before the break. Hewitson comfortably fielded a Goole shot. The Elk’s scissor kick went well over at the other end. And Sutton put a ball in from out wide to Spence. He controlled but couldn’t get his shot on target.

As the half moved into time added on The Azzurri deservedly took the lead. Holden played a Hollywood diagonal ball to Cleggy, his first touch was the sweetest and he then slotted it in the bottom corner. HT 0-1.

3 minutes after the restart and Gilly passed to Zav on the overlap, The Elk whipped in a low cross that was only cleared as far as Gilly. However, he hit it too well and lifted the ball over the bar when a more delicate touch might have found the back of the net.

Soon after, the keeper spilt the ball and Cleggy got to the loose ball first but the keeper cleared up his own mess and stopped the ball with his body.

On the hour, Goole were wrongly awarded free kick for handball after the ball struck Sutton’s hand after coming off his foot. Tom compound the error, he was shown the yellow card as well. Ex-Blue Harry Spooner took the kick and hit the bar and the ball came down on the line and bounced away. Goole appealed for the goal and for a push in the box but there was no chance on either score.

As the heavy rain set in, Marcel Chipamaunga came on and almost immediately brought down a ball over his shoulder but his shot was blocked.

Fellow sub Thwaitesy’s 78th minute through ball found Gilly lurking ominously on the edge of the box and he smacked it in, past the keeper’s despairing dive.

With a couple of minutes left, Goole got some space in the final third but the drive from range went feet past the upright.

Time was almost up when another substitute Haighy slid the ball across the box to Chippy and he did the rest, dribbling it into the net. FT 0-3.

We’ll have have harder tests ahead but there was plenty to like – a fighting performance, 3 quality goals, a cleano and 3 bloody points. But I really can’t better the fine words of club legend Penny Wall “That was some team spirit today on and off the field after a turbulent week.  I definitely feel different to this time last week. Thanks to Jack Varley and Lewis Binns for taking the wheel, and massive thanks to all the Frickley lads and our fans, the support was brilliant!”

WEBMASTER MOTM – a shoutout for the whole defensive unit and the first clean sheet since March and our first league shutout away from home since November 2023! Jack Cawthorn and Brooky were no nonsense and the fullbacks, Will and The Elk were marauding. And we were all made up for Adam H getting his first nil. Golden Holden, Varls and Keano were tigerish. Cleggy was a fox in the box again and Gilly was predatory. The replacements, Chippy on debut, Thwaitesy and Haighy, defined ‘impact sub’ with 2 assists and a goal. However, the Glitterball goes to Joel Spence. He was a man possessed by his determination to win and retain the ball. Stellar stuff, Spence!

TWITTER MOTM – Joel Spence takes it from Charlie Clegg, Jack Cawthorn and Zav Elkin Sheppard. The whole team and Lewis Binns also polled votes. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Joel Spence was chosen by Penny Wall. Well done, Joel 90!

280 through the gate with the SESKU Massive making up a decent proportion. Thank you for travelling all that way to cheer on the lads in these turbulent times!

And a big congrats and even bigger thanks to fans Mick, Alex and Chris who walked the 20-odd miles from The Wezzie to the VPG to raise money for the floodlight appeal. You can still donate if you’d like to by clicking here.

To hear the thoughts of caretaker gaffers, El Binno and Varls, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday 19th October, when Knaresborough Town are our visitors to The Wezzie, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD