The final fixture of 2024 and it’s Festive Friday Football as we head to Albion Sports in the NCEL, kick off is at the slightly later time of 8:00pm
Blues News
The Blues will be heading into the final fixture of 2024 looking to bounce back following a tough 3-1 defeat to Thackley last time out.
With a number of key players missing and a swirling wind causing chaos for both sides, the Blues showed great resilience and rode their luck to hang on to 1-1 after Callum Brook’s close range effort cancelled out Liam Hudson’s opener.
But the home side’s pressure and quality eventually won through as late strikes from Lewis Sugden and Ben Grech-Brooksbank took the game beyond the Blues and gave Thackley a deserved victory.
The defeat sees the Blues remain in 15th in the NCEL Premier Division table on 25 points as we head into the New Year and without a point away from home since the 1-1 draw with Winterton at the start of November. Hopefully a more positive result on the road can follow tomorrow night.
Form (Last 5) – LLWLL
League Standing – P24, W7, D4, L13, Pts 25, Pos 15th
Our Opponents
Our final opponents of 2024 will be Albion Sports who come into this one in 7th place, having dropped out of the playoffs in recent weeks due to not playing a league game since the end of November.
The Lions have been in action in other competitions during December, however, with victories in the County Cup and the FA Vase seeing them continue in both competitions into the New Year.
They remain only 3 points outside the playoff places with as many as 6 games in hand on some of the sides above them so remain firmly in line to replicate their performance last season and secure at least a playoff spot for the second season in a row.
There is some symmetry with the Blues in that their last league match was also a 3-1 defeat away at Thackley though this was during the final week of November.
Form (Last 5) – WWLWW
League Standing – P18, W10, D4, L4, Pts 34, Pos 7th
Previous Meetings
The Blues picked up their first ever win against the Lions in the reverse fixture at Westfield Lane back in August, courtesy of a late 2-1 victory.
The game was turned massively on it’s head inside the first 15 minutes when Nathan Cartman was sent off for 2 quick bookings for the away side but this seemed to galvanise the Lions and hinder Frickley rather than the other way round.
The Blues did eventually take the lead through Harley McCormack just before half time but Albion remained heavily in the game throughout the second half and got a deserved equaliser through Ryan Conlon with 10 minutes to go.
But it was Frickley who had the final say as Zavier Elkin-Sheppard struck in injury time to score the late winner and secure the 3 points for the Blues.
Match Information
So come along and get behind the Blues as we head into our final match of 2024. Address for the ground can be found below:
Horsfall Community Stadium, Cemetery Road, Bradford, BD6 2NG
Admission prices are as below:
Adults – £6.00
Concessions – £3.00
If you can’t make the game, live commentary will be available through PodBean so you won’t miss any of the action. Join us from around 7:55pm for all the coverage.
Let’s hope we can end the year on a high and pick up some much needed points in the final game of 2024. Hope to see you all there!!
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#forzafrickley
