Recap

Pickering Town 2 Frickley 0

The Blues were left to rue missed opportunities as Pickering Town struck twice to claim the points on a frustrating afternoon for the Boys in Blue.

Both sides showed intent from the off. Inside the opening 5 minutes the hosts glanced a header wide and The Azzurri were nearly in on goal when Andrew squared the ball for Robbo, but a slip at the crucial moment saw his effort lifted inches over the bar.

However, it was against the flow when Pickering opened the scoring on 10 minutes. After a throw in from the left, their new player-manager was given too much room and was allowed to hit a 20 yarder that found the net.

Les Bleus responded well. Lindley delivered an excellent cross in the 18th minute and Robbo’s deft flick looked destined for the corner until the Pickering keeper got down quickly to push it away. Robbo was again at the heart of things just before the half hour, his shot forcing another smart save, while the home side threatened sporadically from set pieces, a corner on 31 minutes causing brief alarm.

The Blues continued to probe. In the 40th minute, Love whipped the ball into the box and Woolly attempted an audacious backheel that looped over the bar.

In the closing minutes of the half, Pickering headed wide at the other end and had a scuffed effort comfortably gathered by Sykes. HT 1-0.

Early in the second period, Sykesy was alert again as he smothered a loose ball, and moments later Radz glanced Tom A’s free kick wide at the other end.

Radz thought he’d drawn us level on 51 minutes when he channelled his inner Zidane and volleyed past the keeper, only for the offside flag to cut celebrations short.

The Boys in Blue kept going at it. Andrew gambled to run onto a through ball just before the hour, but his shot caught a defender’s boot and flew over.

Despite The Blues enjoying their best spell, it was Pickering who scored again. A 64th minute cross took a wicked, and very fortunate, deflection off Gagen’s outstretched leg, straight onto a teammate’s head to nod it past Sykes for a 2-0 lead, against the run of play.

Down but not out, The Blues continued on the offensive. Butch fired over from distance, Gagen was denied when his attempt flashed wide, and Robbo tested the keeper again with a long range effort that was safely held.

Several changes were made as The Azzurri looked for a way back into the game. The closest we came arrived late on. Collins’s corner on 88 minutes was poked widen a defender, and from the second corner the ball came back to him, his low shot hit the post as the keeper flapped at it.

Deep into stoppage time, Cleggy curled a free kick towards the bottom corner only for the keeper to pouch it and seal our fate. FT 2-0.

Again, we created chances and applied the pressure for long periods, but failure to take said chances cost us points.

WEBMASTER MOTM – hard to fault us at the back, and no lack of effort elsewhere. Standouts included Cody Collins, Lucas Robinson and Elliott Andrew. But the Glitterball goes jointly to Tom Radley and Harry Gagen. They were everywhere, and were commitment personified. Ra ra Rad-gen!

TWITTER MOTM – Tom Radley takes it from Harry Gagen, Cody Collins, and Lucas Robinson. Thanks to all who voted.

SPONSORS/VOLUNTEERS MOTM – Tom Radley was chosen by Gav  Stevens! Well done, Radz!

158 through the gate, with a considerable contingent from the United Federation of SESKU. Thank you for travelling all that way to support The Blues!

To hear the thoughts of the gaffer, Martin Woolford, click here.

To see the full photo gallery by Pickering Town volunteer, Ellen, click here.

The Blues are next in action in 2026 on Tuesday 3rd February Liversedge are our visitors to The Wezzie for our twice rearranged NCEL League Cup Quarter Final tie, 7.45pm kickoff. Hope to see you all there….

#forzafrickley

#FFTD