Frickley 3 Hepworth United 0

Potential banana skin avoided as The Blues eased passed a spirited Hepworth United side and into the next round of the Sheffield Cup.

Into the starting lineup came Jack Harrison and Rieves Boocock, replacing Sam Liversidge (rested) and Tom Clare (loan spell ended).

Seconds gone, 106 to be precise, and Les Bleus were ahead, courtesy of an own goal. Boocock charged down the right before whipping a ball into the danger zone only to see a defender turn it into his own net.

Soon after, Brad Wells stormed onto a 5th minute through ball, rounded the keeper and rolled the ball goalwards at an empty net but the defender raced back to clear off the line via the outside of the post.

On their first foray into the Frickley half, in the 8th minute, Hepworth managed a shot across goal that could have caused problems had it been on target.

This signalled the start of a better spell for the visitors as the next half hour or so saw The Blues limited to a series of less clear cut chances. Most of these coming down the left with Tom Davie, Jacob Hazel and Tyler Williams linking up well and all 3 having shots on goal but none able to get a clean strike. HT 1-0.

Boocock opened the second period for The Azzurri with a rasping drive just wide of the post. And not five minutes had elapsed before Tom Jackson was called into action at the other end, making a stunning save when Hepworth made a break into the Frickley half.

With 10 minutes of the half gone, The Blues breached the Hepworth defences, Jake Currie felled as he darted into the Hepworth box and the ref made no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Haze took the penner, slotting his spot kick into the bottom corner, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process, for his 104th goal for the club.

By way of a contrast, six minutes later, Brad Wells scored his first for the club, latching onto a pinpoint pass, he smashed in Frickley’s third.

Hepworth’s best chance of the night came with 13 minutes to go. TJ was doing his bit as sweeper-keeper but picked up a yellow card, fouling the Hepworth striker 30 yards out. From the resulting free kick, Hepworth hit the upright before the danger was cleared.

The best chances in the last 10 saw Tom Davie fire wide from distance and Todd Jordan nod over the bar from a late corner but 3-0 it stayed. FT 3-0.

The Sheffield County League side proved to be robust in defence and put in a decent account of themselves whilst Frickley did enough to put the game safely to bed without ever quite hittting their straps.

WEBMASTER MOTM – all had a sound game in one of those tricky games where you’re expected to win. Special mentions for both keepers, TJ did everything asked of him and I don’t usually praise the opposition (I’ll have a word with myself later) but Adam Lawlor, the Hepworth custodian, was a safe pair of hands on what was a fairly busy night for him. At the back Toddy got his head on everything, Jack Harrison coped well when worked hard by the Hepworth attack and Tom Davie’s surging runs down the left were a reminder of what he can do going forward. In midfield, Jake Currie was the engine room, going box to box and his quick thinking won the penalty, whilst Rieves Boocock was a live wire on the right. And Haze was a threat as usual, his link up play down the left was a feature. But this week I’m awarding a joint Glitterball (coz I can, I make the rules here) to Brad Wells and Tyler Williams. Brad ran hard at the Hepworth back line all night, took his goal well and could have had another. And Tyler, on his 100th appearance for the club, was a wing wizard, constantly keeping his marker on the back foot. Wunderbar, gentlemen!

Tyler is pictured receiving a presentation from Chairman Stuart Highfield after the game to celebrate his aforementioned 100th Frickley appearance.

TWITTER MOTM – Brad Wells took top spot, just managing to hold off the challenge of Tyler Williams in second. Todd Jordan and Tom Davie also polled.

71 through the gate, thank you for supporting your local community football club.

We’re away at Ilkeston on Saturday then we’re next in action at Westfield Lane on Saturday 26th October against Spalding United, 3pm ko. Hope to see you there…