Pickering Town v Frickley Athletic

Recap

Pickering 3 Frickley 1

A pair of goals in the final third of the game gave Pickering the win to complete the double over The Blues. It was another tough result to take as a controversial decision at a crucial point significantly contributed to our downfall.

There was 1 change from last week as Jack Holden had taken a knock so moved to the bench and Marcel Chipamaunga came into the starting XI to replace him.

There was just 12 seconds gone when a ball over top found Chippy but he got underneath it and skied it.

However, for the next 20-odd minutes, The Boys in Blue were forced into a rearguard action.

HDH made a string of good saves although he could only watch when the ball skidded off the top of the bar as Pickering shot from range.

The Blues almost opened the scoring with a Cleggy shot from 20 yards. The keeper fumbled it but managed to claw it away before the ball could cross the line.

Then on 25 minutes, the home side stepped up a gear, going down the wing at pace before crossing in for their forward to get ahead of his marker to turn it in at the front post.

Pickering’s lead lasted only 4 minutes. Gilly picked the ball up 30 yards out, took a couple of steps and spotted the keeper napping so fired it straight in from there for his 9th goal of the season.

The Azzurri continued to pile on the pressure. After a great run by Varls, he slipped the ball to Chippy but his shot was blocked. Chippy was in again on 38 minutes but, under a heavy challenge from a defender, he rolled his shot narrowly past the post. HT 1-1.

The second half was similarly end to end. In the 53rd minute, a quick passing move allowed Chippy to tee up Zav but the keeper pouched it. Then Chippy found space again but drove his low shot wide of the far post. And Cleggy’s wormburner was on target but was clung onto by the keeper.

Pickering had their chances too. They missed a sitter just before the hour, sending a free header over the bar.

A defensive mix up was cleared up when HDH saved. And Jack Cawthorn made a remarkable last ditch tackle to prevent an almost certain goal. It was belatedly flagged for offside but JC wasn’t to know that.

The match hinged on an ‘interesting’, and game-changing, decision in the 67th minute. Cleggy received the ball on the edge of the centre circle but it got away from him a little on the greasy surface. He slid to make contact with the ball, playing it back to another green shirt, and the Pickering player ran into him and went over Cleggy’s prone body. Unbelievably, the ref awarded a free kick. The Gaffer got a yellow card in the ensuing uproar. Needless to say, Pickering scored as a result, floating the free kick to a man on the corner of our box who hit a once-in-a-lifetime worldy into the top corner.

The Blues attempted to pick themselves up as Chippy headed over and some nice bits of football ended with shots wide or saved. Interestingly, with 12 minutes remaining, when Cleggy took possession of the ball in the Pickering penalty area but was slide tackled and left in a crumpled heap by the follow through, that was deemed to be a fair challenge. Go figure.

As so often happens when you’re chasing the game, gaps open up at the back and so it was with 2 minutes left on the clock to effectively end the game as a contest. A solid Blues tackle on the edge of the box unfortunately only succeeded in diverting the loose ball to a Pickering forward, he squared to a teammate who duly popped it in.

In time added on, we finished much as we had started with HDH making a good stop. FT 3-1.

We certainly created plenty, and while we needed to be more clinical in front of goal, it’s better to make chances and miss ‘em than to not get them at all. Plenty of time till our next game to put in the effort on the training ground and show the necessary big response next time out. The Gaffer and his team have got this!

WEBMASTER MOTM – focusing on the positive, we were lively up top and gave the opposition keeper a tricky afternoon. Gilly showed great vision to get our goal. Cleggy was a workhorse, dragging defenders all over. Varls put in his usual dynamic marathon man performance. And at the other end, HDH was a safe pair of hands, nowt he could do about any of the goals. However, the Glitterball goes to Marcel Chipamaunga. Chippy ran through the back 4 almost at will and on another day he bags a hatful. Cheers, Chippy!

TWITTER MOTM – Rob Guilfoyle takes it from Charlie Clegg, Marcel Chipamaunga and Jack Varley. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Charlie Clegg was chosen by Kobe Hyde. Well done, Cleggy!

136 through the gate with a good number from WF9. Thank you for trekking all the way out to Pickering. The lads know you’ve got their backs!

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

The Blues have a free weekend next Saturday so we are next in action in a fortnight, on Saturday 30th November, when when we travel to Campion, 3pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD