OUR U23S VS RIASA BRADFORD U23S – A BRIEF MATCH REPORT

Frickley Athletic U23s 2
Riasa Bradford U23s 0

So the Young Azzurri stepped up for their first competitive match of the season at the Real Home Of Football last night……..and carried on where they left off last season!

A lovely mixture of craft & graft against a very decent RIASA Bradford team – a great individual goal, a superb team move that led to a converted penalty & a cleano meaning that the Young Blues came out on top

Frickley’s young guns finally got to play at home fixture when they entertained Riasa Bradford at Westfield Lane.

Looking to build on their opening victory away to Ilkley, we got off to a dream start when the inform Bailey Cowsell latched onto a Joe Cooney pass to hold off the challenging defender to superbly turn & fire a unstoppable right footed strike into the far top corner from just inside the penalty area – his shot was part caress / part Howitzer!

Both sides had chances to score, with the visitors being guilty of failing to hit the target when presented with a couple of good opportunities. Josh Cummins & Lewis Binns (I can see this young lad doing well in the game…) both headed wide after good crosses from Joe Cooney & Lucas Brown was unfortunate not to increase our lead when he had 2 shots that just cleared the bar & then an inswinging corner that actually hit the cross bar.

We took a half time lead 1-0 in a tightly contested game with both sides having created several good chances.

The 2nd half started similar to the 1st with us scoring within the opening couple of minutes, full back Ben Jennings fed Josh Cummins who played in Bailey Cowsell who was fouled in the box, after consulting the linesman the referee awarded a penalty. Up stepped Josh Cummins who coolly slotted the ball home into the bottom corner great start the 2nd half the home side now had a 2 goal cushion.

Just a side note regarding Ben Jennings & the back line – they rolled the clock back & gave the sort of defensive display that you used to see every week in the 70s – won their headers & tackles, passed it to a team mate when they were available & put the ball in Row Z when it needed it – for some reason this sort of defending has gone out of fashion – hopefully the boys are bringing back into fashion!

The visitors to their credit never gave in & Alfie Denton had to make one superb save tipping a shot destined for the bottom corner around the post, mid way through the second half to keep them out. Frickley’s back line of Ben Jennings, James Nicklin, Spencer Moses & Alfie Studd who are all U18s stood tall and the hosts managed the game for another 3 points & claimed a 2nd consecutive clean sheet of the season. These were assisted in midfield by the hard working Tom Cotson, Lucas Brown & Lewis Binns who was returning to fitness after a long absence through injury.

The Paul Mann man of the match was awarded to Ben Jennings who was outstanding at full back, he won all his individual battles & contributed going forward linking up down the right hand side in attack.

Change of fixture for next week -we will now host Port of Goole 23s at the Wezzie on Thursday 16th Oct 7.45pm kick off.