I’m going to say this quietly so that no-one overhears…..& keep it to yourself for now – Martin, Tony & Bob are building another very good footballing team! A mixture of determination, endeavour & quality – the nucleus being our Under 18s (nurtured by Pep Powney) supplemented by the relative ‘veterans’ of Nowodny, Hughesy & Cowsell. They proved it yet again in the most local of local derbies
Both sides went into the game with 100% win records, having played the same two teams, the home side looked to be slight favourites having scored 13 goals compared to the visitors who had only scored 5 against the same opposition.
The home side indeed started the brighter forcing several early corners and hitting the post before eventually taking a deserved lead (our ‘finger on the pulse’ Media Team missed the build up to the goal……).
This resulted in the Young Azzurri waking up & they responded more or less immediately to score an equaliser when hard working skipper Harry Alexander’s inswinging corner eluded everyone and went straight in at the far post,
We had settled now and created the better chances, wingers Joe Wilson & Matty Hughes were proving to be a real handful with their direct running down the right & left hand side along with Bailey Cowsell who had a goalbound effort bravely blocked by the home keeper.
Frickley’s midfield were now on top with the 1st half coming to its conclusion, young Tom Cotson displayed calmness way beyond his years along side the energetic Mason Kilmartin who burst through courageously to challenge the last defender & the on rushing GK which resulted in the ball rebounding to the man of the moment Bailey Cowsell who magnificently fired a 35 yard dipping volley into the empty net. It really took some skill to finish like he did – yet he nonchalantly volleyed it home as though he was having a kick about on the beach
We had turned it round & went into the halftime break 2-1 up in a tight entertaining 1st half.
The 2nd half was very similar to the 1st, with both sides creating chances, our back line of GK Dylan Sefton along with defenders Taylor Armitage, Josh Smith, Ross ‘The Boss’ Nowodny & Wilfey Woodham were all superb in keeping the home side out.
With the hosts understandably pushing forward for an equaliser you always thought we would get a chance to increase our lead.
Bailey Cowsell thought he had done this with a superb right foot curling effort which was superbly tip over the bar by the home keeper. But the inform striker didn’t have to wait long when he deservedly got his second goal of the game with a similar effort but this curling right foot effort took a slight deflection and found it’s way into the top corner of the onion bag, 3-1 to the Azzurri.
Debutant Atley Jackson was introduced from the bench with 30 mins to go and brought a level of control to the game for Frickley constantly wanting the ball and more than often finding the right pass to help steer the visitors home. They nearly increased their lead in in the dying minutes when the impressive Harry Alexander burst clear to fire a powerful shot over the opposition GK only to see his wonder strike hit the inside of the post & rebound to safety. A brilliant move that typified what the Young Blues are all about – win the ball in midfield through determination, look up & make the pass through endeavour & (almost) score a worldy through quality.
The final score ended 3-1 to Frickley but we certainly knew we had been in a game against a good opponents who never game up & they had several good young players who should do well this season.
The Bob Smith MOTM could have gone to numerous players but young full back Wilfey Woodham (pictured) deservedly took the award, he was outstanding again & is establishing himself as consistent performer in his 1st season at this level, definitely one to watch for the future, Well done young man !!!
If you want to see them in action (& why wouldn’t you) their next fixture is 30th October when we travel to Leeds to play RIASA FC Under 23s
