Frickley 0 Scunthorpe United U23s 4

A hat trick from Dutchman Kevin Van Veen ensured that Scunthorpe United U23s, managed by Frickley legend Russ Wilcox, saw off the Blues in what was a tricky evening for our defence but an entertaining game nonetheless.

The League Two visitors almost took the lead in the first minute when a mix up at the back, combined with a bit of the old Wezzie bobble, created an opening but the Scunny striker rolled the ball narrowly wide of the empty net. Tom Jackson was in the thick of it again 3 minutes later, making a fantastic double save from Van Veen then Olomola.

Frickley’s first real attack followed a 10th minute Haze interception on half way and an inviting ball for Jack McMenemy to run onto that was cleared before anything could develop.

Jackson had to be on his toes 2 minutes later when a looping cross reached Hornshaw and he unleashed a vicious volley goalwards, only for Jacko to push it out for the corner.

The closest the Blues got to a goal all evening probably came in the 15th minute when Jake Currie picked up a Liam Carrick throw, then surged into the box before whipping the ball across goal but just behind the lurking Jacob Hazel. Haze hooked the ball back towards Jack Mc but he couldn’t quite get the touch it needed and the ball went agonisingly past the upright.

Then there came a spell of Iron pressure that led to 3 goals in 16 minutes. The first came in the 23rd minute, a near carbon copy of the first-minute defensive mix up/Wezzie bobble combo led to Hornshaw toe-ending the ball into the Frickley net.

Almost straight from the kick off, Scunny doubled their advantage, working the ball to Van Veen for him open his account, lobbing Jackson from 12 yards out.

It was three in the 39th minute when a cross was deflected into the path of Van Veen who crashed the ball home.

Van Veen is another tall, awkward proposition for a defender, and could have got another before half time but fired wide with the goal at his mercy. HT 0-3.

Les Bleus brought on Oliver Russon and Luke Hogg at half time and this definitely gave the spine of the team more stability. Subsequently, the Azzurri managed three more chances by the hour mark. Haze was involved in the first two, side footing over the bar, then dropping the ball on Modest’s head in the 6 yard box. Modest was on the end of another nice move in the 59th minute, Hogg playing out to JB who swiftly fed the ball to Modest, however, he couldn’t quite get his shot off before being tackled.

The Iron started to get back into the game with a couple of shots straight at Jackson in the 63rd minute before Van Veen, playing in a deeper second half role, completed his treble in the 72nd. A Scunny cross flashed across goal but Jackson couldn’t get a grip on it and Van Veen pounced on the rebound to make it 4-0.

There was no respite for Jackson, he was forced into action on at least 3 more occasions as the Iron went looking for number 4, the most notable of which was an outrageous effort by Van Veen. His flick over the keeper went so high it took out a passing pigeon but didn’t have the legs to make it over the line and Jackson collected comfortably. FT 0-4.

The scoreline might have been a bit disappointing for the Blue contingent of the crowd but none too surprising considering the nature of the opposition, a full time side, including the very experienced Kevin Van Veen plus several others with EFL games under their belt. In fact, Van Veen offered an object lesson in forward play and largely proved to be the difference between the two teams. On the positive side, the second half performance by Les Bleus was much more solid and streetwise, and this game was nothing if not a fantastic workout in very warm conditions.

WEBMASTER MOTM – On a night when Van Veen gave our defence the runaround, their heads didn’t drop and they stuck to their task manfully. Oliver Russon and Jack Burton came on in the second half and helped to give the midfield a little more drive. Pre season debutant Nathan Modest was lively up front and Haze put in a really decent all-round performance, threatening in the attacking third but doing his fair share of hard work at the other end too, getting back well to defend when needed. However, just shading it for me, the Glitterball goes to Luke Hogg, second half substitute Hoggy moved seamlessly between defence and midfield, and on this showing, his vision and link up play had the makings of some performances to look forward to over the coming season. Well done, young sir!

It was a goodly crowd on such a balmy evening and the club thanks you for coming out to cheer on the Boys in Blue. Don’t forget we have another PSF on Saturday, a battle of the collieries against Rossington Main, 3pm ko, and we’d love to see you all there.