Pontefract Collieries F C vs Frickley Athletic

Recap

The Blues might have lost the El Clasicoal but they were anything but the pits…

The El Clasicoal went the way of big-spending Ponte but the Blues weren’t overawed, they genuinely battled to the end and on another day might have had an equaliser that on this occasion was disallowed.

In team news, the majority of the Media Team were unavailable due to other commitments but Chris, assisted by Jimbo (see his pic above), still made the starting lineup, so this report is based on his fine twitter work. Thus, if you disagree, take it up with him but remember he is a black belt in origami and his twitter finger is a lethal weapon. Oh, and there were a couple of the players out with injury as well.

It didn’t start well for Les Bleus, behind early on to a goal credited to the prolific Joe Lumsden. Lumsden shot in the direction of the goal but it took a wicked deflection off the head of a defender before it reached the Blues’ net, but strikers tend to claim them no matter how dubious or otherwise.

Sam Cable almost squared it on 20 minutes but former Blue, Jake Picton deflected the ball wide. Johnny Pugh then volleyed just over from the corner.

Ponte broke through a few minutes later but blazed over and 1-0 it stayed.

Ten minutes before half time, Sam C challenged the Ponte keeper, another ex-Blue, Sebba Malkowski, who appeared to drop the ball as he went to ground, Sam then netted the loose ball. However, it was disallowed for a foul on the Pole in Goal, a soft one at best, according to those who witnessed it. HT 1-0.

The second half was a scrappy affair, the Blues fighting for every ball. Most notable was when Jake Picton and Sam Cable had a coming together that required the ref to have a word but no more.

In the last quarter of an hour, Haze created a half chance for Sam C but he couldn’t put it away. Picton and yet another ex-Blue, Jameel Ible had the same problem, both clearing the bar with an attempt before the final whistle. FT 1-0.

The Blues tried to play football for the full 90, never resorting to panicking and lumping it forward, against a defence the like of which we won’t face too many times this coming season. Overall, this was VERY encouraging against a side of the calibre of Ponte Colls.

WEBMASTER MOTM – a robust and a footballing performance across the park but a special mention for Sam Liversidge who played in midfield and didn’t put a foot wrong. However, this week it’s Sam Cable who bags the Glitterball, hardworking, creative and unlucky not to score. Top stuff, to both Sams!

Plenty of the Blue faithful travelled to back the Azzurri, we thank you wholeheartedly for your support. Next time out it’s the real thing, League footy is back when we play Chasetown at the Wezzie next Saturday, 3pm ko. Don’t miss it…