Frickley Athletic 1-1 Marine

The Blues were held to a draw by Marine who equalised from the penalty spot as Joe Wilcox saw red for his second handball of the game.

Leon Osborne had given the Blues a 6th minute lead and they looked good value for it until Wilcox was penalised for handball in the 28th minute but Ben Simpson saved Dale Wright's spot-kick.

Wilcox received his second yellow, and subsequent red, card in the 74th minute for another handball offence with Andy Fowler this time beating Simpson from the spot in the 75th minute.

Karl Rose was boosted by Jake Picton being fit to play whilst Leon Osborne kept his place after impressing when coming on at Witton Albion on Tuesday evening. Andy Villermann partnered Joe Wilcox in central defence.

The Blues started positively with Luke Hornsey seeing his first time 20 yard shot deflected over the bar after a free-kick from Luke Sharry was cleared to him in only the third minute.

Three minutes later the Blues took the lead when Sharry’s cross was headed down by Luke Hinsley for Osborne to stab the ball past Callum Williams from 8 yards.

A dangerous cross from Aaron Rey was knocked clear at the back post by Kasper Amdal on 10 minutes and minutes later Neil Harvey flicked on a free-kick for Rey to find himself clear inside the box but Simpson spread himself well to block Rey’s shot from a tight angle.

Hornsey then robbed Will Bell as he tried to bring the ball out of defence and sprinted into the box but Williams was quickly off his line to block Horney’s shot for a corner which Hinsley headed over the bar.

Marine were gifted the opportunity to equalise on 28 minutes when Wilcox handled a deep free-kick inside the box and the referee awarded the penalty and cautioned Wilcox. However, Simpson got down well to save Dale Wright’s penalty.

Hinsley glanced a Lee Stratford free-kick just wide of the far post before the Blues had a let off when John Shaw’s 25 yard free-kick somehow found its way through the wall and then bounced up in front of Simpson who did well to flick the ball up over the bar. Seconds later Picton glanced a cross from Jones just over his own bar.

Osborne and Fernando Moke combined well down the left just after the break with the latter cutting into the box before finding the side netting from a tight angle whilst on 54 minutes the visitors came the closest yet to equalising when Michael Monaghan his a powerful shot from 25 yards that came back off the crossbar with Simpson beaten.

Kasper Amdal sent Moke away down the left in the 57th minute but his cross to the back post was headed just wide by Hinsley via a deflection off defender’s head.

The initiative shifted Marine’s way in the 74th minute when a shot from 12 yards by Jonathan Goulding bounced up and struck the outstretched arm of Wilcox who was 6 yards away with Marine being awarded their second spot-kick and Wilcox receiving his marching awards after receiving a second yellow card. This time substitute Andy Fowler beat Simpson from the spot and Hornsey was immediately sacrificed to bring Sam Denton on and into the defence.

The Blues were now hanging on to claim a point as Marine made the most of their extra man. Fowler blasted over when a corner fell to him at the back post on 79 minutes and on 87 minutes Matty Devine turned Stratford and then Sharry inside out before seeing his shot blocked by Simpson who had to recover quickly to block the follow-up header from Lee Parle on the line.

Frickley Athletic : Ben Simpson, Kasper Amdal, Lee Stratford, Jake Picton, Joe Wilcox, Andy Villermann, Luke Hornsey (Sam Denton 74 mins), Luke Sharry, Fernando Moke, Luke Hinsley, Leon Osborne. Unused subs. Jack Wakefield, Luke Jeffs, Joe Davies, Jon Hood.

Marine : Callum Williams, Phil Clarke, John Shaw, Dale Wright, Will Bell (Connor Roberts-Nurse 79 mins), Lee Parle, Will Jones, Jonathan Goulding, Neil Harvey (Andy Fowler 59 mins), Aaron Rey (Matty Devine 73 mins), Michael Monaghan. Unused subs. Josh Sumner, Robbie Lawton.

Referee : Mr. Ken Haycock

Attendance : 245