Loughborough 2 Frickley 2

It was definitely a penalty.....

Loughborough is the birthplace of Corrie actor David Nielson but with just 40 minutes of the game gone it looked like Frickley were going to come a (Roy) Cropper.....

I'm here all week.

Same starting 11 as Sheffield FA Trophy game but we were definitely caught napping as Lboro scored with their first attack after 50 seconds.

Jack Burton picked up a knock & tried to continue (of course he did) but ultimately he had to come off & was replaced by Tom Dugdale & it was Duggie who set up our first decent chance when he clipped a lovely ball into the box & Stevie Hopewell got a good connection on it & their keeper pulled off a good stop to put it out for a corner. Next chance came from a strike from Haze which hit the bar & then Shinner Hopewell was through 1 on 1 but his shot was blocked by the keeper.

A real communication breakdown between Sebba & Fab Bailey led to the 2nd Lboro goal & at that point we were looking down the barrel (again) but 5 minutes later we pulled one back. A quality cross by Duggie led to an even higher quality finish by Rocksteady Teddy - basically he controlled the ball, spun & hit it all in the same motion & no keeper was stopping it. From that point forward we weren't going to lose but it was a question of whether we could score, or be prevented from scoring (through fair or foul means), the goals that would give us the win.

HALF TIME - LBORO 2 FRICKLEY 1

Straight on the front foot after the restart - Gav had the ball in the net but the liner (more of him later) flagged it for offside. The skipper had another good chance shortly afterwards but shot wide. Lboro were completely shot at this point & this led to the clearest cut red card for their captain that you will ever see. Big Chief Flailing Elbows got away with it in the first half (a stronger official would have shown red there & then) but when he repeated the dose to Richie Patterson, he had to go - how the Lboro fans could cry into their beer about that decision is beyond me. In the melee that followed Gavin Allott was bitten by the opposition - I'll just leave that with you.....

Methinks perhaps the player that saw red has been watching even more World of Sport wrestling than I have - forearm smashes may be OK when administered by Honeyboy Zimba to Mick McManus (ask him referee) but they're not OK in association football (red card him referee).

The ref had another easy decision shortly afterwards when Lboro carried on the wrestling tactics & bodyslammed Jammer to the deck in the box - step forward Jacob Hazel for his 12th of the season.

Next up, Steve Hopewell turns his man in the 6 yard box & he's about to pull the trigger - the defender grabs his shirt & pulls him to the deck (of course he does) - but no penalty awarded. Everyone in the ground said it was a penner, including the perpetrator (after the game) & the referees assessor (straight away). We had Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles & the lad out of Peters & Lee on commentary duties with us & they all called it. The only people who didn't call it, or were scared of calling it, were the officials, I was embarrassed for them.

Shinner & Grant Allott came off - replaced by Matt Overton & Darkenbauer.

Despite constant pressure we couldn't get the 3rd that we deserved.

FULL TIME - LBORO 2 FRICKLEY 2

I can't say too much on here about officials as it could get the club in bother but all I will say is that Drew Dutton probably peaked at 3pm when he blew the whistle for the start of the game...

Not a result that I wanted but that aside the Media Team enjoyed their trip to Lboro - it's an old fashioned ground (& that's not being derogatory in any way), it's a doddle to get to down the M1 (apart from the Gerry Wray Wrecking Crew) & the fans who were stood near us - including their secretary - gave & took some good banter, although I understand a few tools on the far side spoiled it for the rest & I am lead to believe that they have previous. Kick 'em out - you don't need them.

We need to stop giving teams a start - we might feel sorry for them but it's time to put compassion aside.

WEBMASTER MOTM - nice & easy this week despite decent performances from most. Sebba had nowt to do apart from picking the ball out of the net, for instance. But the Glitterball goes to Richie Patterson - even a couple of forearms in the face won't stop him - well done lad.

120 through the gate & a good number of Frickley fans & we thank you for your continued support of Les Bleus/Verts. Apologies to fans trying to listen to commentary via the Pundit app - we're in discussion with them about the constant drop out of coverage & we may move to Facebook Live in the future.

Next up we're at home to Stocky on Tuesday in the Integro Cup - not quite as exciting as the Intertoto Cup that set everyones pulses racing 'back in the day.