Frickley Athletic U23s 3
RIASA Bradford 2
So last week our Young Azzurri came up just short against top of the table i2i Albion. How would they bounce back as they hosted 2nd in the table RIASA Bradford? The visitors had only lost 2 games all season…..you can make that 3 now as the boys came back as we knew they would with a display of skill, guile, power & guts
For the first hour it was pretty much 1 way traffic as Frickley dominated the game to find themselves 3 up. Maybe they subconsciously took their foot of the throat / gas to allow RIASA to get 2 late goals to make it a nervy last few minutes – but all the players knew their jobs & they stuck to them with style.
In a tight opening 15 mins where both teams created several half chances but both defensive units cancelled each other out, a tight game looked like it was on the cards.
But we took the lead after 20 mins when the in form Josh Haigh was played in skillfully by Joe Cooney, to get taken out in the box with a badly timed challenge by a RIASA defender. He dusted himself down to coolly fire a left footed shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards, 1-0 to Frickley.
Just before the break when Riasa where looking to equalise after creating several good chances, Frickley increased their lead when the talented full back Wilfey Woodham played in Josh Haigh who crossed for Atley Jackson to fire home from close range 2-0 half time.
Straight after half time the home side got their 3rd when Josh Haigh won a free kick on the left, Joe Cooney swung the resulting free kick right onto the foot of…..you guessed it, Super Danny Selwood who gleefully guided the ball home (his 2nd in 4 games).
3-0 to the home side you would have thought game over, but RIASA had other ideas & showed why they are currently sitting 2nd in the league.
With half an hour to go the visitors scored a good goal, a consolation goal maybe ? No chance the visitors were now throwing everything at Frickley & with 5 minutes to go scored another when they scored with a good header from a corner.
It was backs to the wall now for the home side defence who had to dig deep, youngsters Ben Jennings, Wilfey Woodham & James Nicklin were all superb & along with defensive midfielders Tyler Shear & Alfie Studd they managed to hang on to secure all 3 points.
The Bob Smith MOTM could have gone to any of the outstanding defenders but Super Danny Selwood deservedly edged the award with his goal & his 1st full 90mins since his welcomed return from injury.
The Young Azzurri are in home action again next week when they entertain i2i Utd 7.45pm kick off – come & have a look, you won’t regret it
