Knaresborough Town FC v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Knaresborough Town 3 Frickley 1

After a first half that promised so much, a second half collapse saw The Blues fall to their third consecutive defeat.

Plenty of changes as only Big Al Keita, Elliot Owen, Kofi Appiah and Lloyd Smith kept their places from the eleven that started at Penistone, 3 weeks ago.

The Blues were in the ascendancy from the off, yet it took until the 12th minute for Big Al to carve out a chance by feeding Lloydy who smashed a shot goalwards that was well saved and tipped over.

We didn’t have to wait too much longer and The Boys in Blue took a well deserved 26th minute lead when the ball dropped to Josh Haigh, hitting it on the half volley through the keeper’s legs and into the net.

The first half continued to be a siege with The Azzurri camped in the Knaresborough half but without creating any opportunities worthy of the name other than Big Al’s volley wide after the keeper punched the ball out in the 38th minute.

The officiating was interesting again. But we did see the unusual sight of a Knaresborough player being sin-binned for dissent. HT 0-1.

The second period was just four minutes old and The Blues were inexplicably 2-1 down.

Two minutes after ko, Knaresborough crossed in to the box, and the dissenter, back on the pitch, headed the ball past debutant keeper Harrison Davison-Male.

Moments later, and a Knaresborough attacker was allowed to run at goal before picking his spot, just out of HDM’s reach, from 18 yards out to put the hosts ahead.

Haighy had The Azzurri’s best chance to get back into it in the 57th minute, running onto a through ball but hitting the side netting from a narrow angle.

As the half continued, there were a couple of half-hearted shouts for a penalty but nothing doing.

We also had to endure an interminable spell of Knaresborough players dropping like flies with cramp, running the clock down. They needn’t have worried as with 8 minutes remaining HDM saved but could only push the rebound straight to a forward who tucked it away to seal the win. FT 3-1.

That was the game of two halves that they talk about. The first half went rather well and Knaresborough offered little in response. However, we didn’t start playing the second half until five minutes after the opposition by which time the momentum had well and truly swung their way. You live and learn (hopefully, to keep it tight just after half time).

WEBMASTER MOTM – in the first half everyone was on point, in the second half everyone was on edge. Kofi and Lloydy did their jobs and did their best as usual, and it was good to see Brandon Murillo back in the first team ranks as a starter. The captaincy suited El Binno. And Josh Haigh grabbed another goal with a sweet strike, and he might’ve had a second. But I’m giving the Glitterball to Big Al Keita again, he was at the centre of every decent attacking move and he simply bleeds for the cause. Big up to Big Al!

TWITTER MOTM – Josh Haigh takes it from Lloydy, Kofi and Big Al Keita. Thanks for voting.

230 in attendance with at least half that number from WF9. We thank you all for sticking with us in tough times.

We are next in action next Saturday, 4th February, against Barton Town, down at The Wezzie, 3pm kickoff. And if you’re at a loose end on Monday evening, the U23s are playing at Ilkley Town U21s, 8.10pm ko. Hope to see you all there….