Recap

Grimsby Borough 3 Frickley 2 (PSF4)

The Azzurri put on their best showing of preseason so far as they were edged out by the odd goal in 5 at Northern Premier League side Grimsby Borough in an entertaining encounter.

Grimsby applied the early pressure as a powerful header was superbly saved by Will Sykes, and from the resulting corner, the hosts struck the crossbar. Grimsby continued to threaten and hit the side netting in the 8th minute.

Controversy arrived on 10 minutes when Grimsby were awarded a penalty after their player was pushed, though the spot kick was given for handball instead. The penalty was duly dispatched to give the home side the lead.

The Blues responded well, but both returning club legend Martyn Woolford and the mercurial Tom Alngohuru were subjected to some overly physical treatment that went unpunished by the referee. In the 27th minute, Woolly came close with a rasping drive that tested the keeper, and moments later, his acrobatic overhead kick from a corner flew just wide.

The equaliser came in the 31st minute after excellent work by Fons, who skinned his fullback and delivered a pinpoint cross. Woolly rose highest to nod it down and Tom A was on hand to tuck away a well-worked and deserved goal for The Blues.

Frickley continued to create chances, with Fons again beating his marker only to be pulled back. He managed to cross, but it was cleared.

Grimsby had their own chances and narrowly missed the target before benefiting from a controversial moment just before half time. A Grimsby forward had the ball on his wrong foot and could only hit the ref. The ref then swiftly gave the drop ball onto the Grimsby man’s preferred foot and he took full advantage, playing a quick ball out wide. The cross was met with a tidy finish on the turn to send the hosts into the break 2–1 ahead. HT 2-1.

The Boys in Blue were undeterred and began the second half brightly. Sykes made another comfortable save before The Blues struck again on 58 minutes. Tom A turned provider this time, brilliantly beating his fullback and crossing for Woolly, who swept the ball past the keeper to level it.

On as sub, Destiny thought he had put The Blues ahead soon after, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Woolly then teed up Robinson, but his effort was blocked. Within moments, Grimsby had moved the ball swiftly down the other end and retaken the lead as Frickley afforded them too much space, allowing their forward to almost pick his spot.

Despite going behind, The Azzurri continued to press. Destiny broke through but was denied, and Tom A fired just over. Lucas Robinson tested the keeper again with a stinging shot that had to be tipped over, and Tom A was inches away with a strike from distance.

There was a solid penalty appeal late on when Woolly was twice brought down in the box during a determined run, but the ref inexplicably waved away protests on both occasions. Mind you, this was the same ref who tried to send off Pat McGuire twice in the same game a couple of years ago.

Grimsby hit the post in the closing stages, but there were no further goals. FT 3-2.

A narrow defeat but a hugely encouraging performance from The Azzurri, who scored a pair of high quality goals and went toe-to-toe with higher league opposition. The Blues will take plenty of positives from this combative and creative display as preseason preparations continue.

WEBMASTER MOTM – the performances are building. Standouts included Joel Spence being Joel Spence, an assured RBH and a dogged Niall Butchart. Fons (Luis Afonso Ferreira) and Destiny (Ifeanyi Nnenanua) just seem to make stuff happen and are well on the way to becoming fan favourites. But as it’s preseason and I’m still warming up my decisiveness, the Glitterball is a 3-way tie and goes to Martyn Woolford, Tom Alngohuru and Takunda Katsere. TK is a diamond in the rough who is starting to sparkle. And with a goal and an assist apiece, Tom A gets better and better with every game while Woolly oozed class from every pore.

110 through the gate, with a large percentage from the Duchy of SESKUshire. Thank you for travelling all that way to support the lads and hope you all had a good day at the seaside!

To hear the thoughts of the gaffer, Tom Claisse, click here.

The Blues are next in action on Tuesday 15th July when Emley are our visitors to The Wezzie, 7.30pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD