Spalding 1 Frickley 3

A game of 2 halves, 1 of them was very good!

So the fixture between Spalding & Frickley finally came to completion - this was the fixture that was abandoned in March due to the serious injury to Spalding player Johnny Lockie. Fortunately Lockie has recovered well & actually featured in the Spalding 11 last night & scored too!!

The game looked precarious in the run up to kick off - persistent rain put the fixture in jeopardy but sterling work by the Spalding ground staff meant that the game could go ahead but the pitch was on the heavy side of heavy!

Ben Algar was unavailable so Teddy Bloor came back into the starting 11.

Frickley started brightly, Reece McGinley set up Duggie but the chance was cleared but it dropped to Darkenbauer who tried a shot from 30+ yards - clearly trying to prove that he doesn't only score with his knees.

The game was the very epitome of dour midfield battle until the half hour when Spalding scored, against the run of play. Young Lockie putting it past Jake Turner.

The only other notable event of the half was that the referee blew the whistle after 43 minutes - he later admitted that he thought his watch said 48 minutes & that's why he blew for time. I don't know if he booked himself but the Media Team shared some 'banter' with him as a result

HALF TIME - SPALDING 1 FRICKLEY 0

It was a very different Frickley team that came out in the 2nd half, McGinley was the scourge of the home defence early on.

Spen made an early change, Darker was replaced by George Milner & it was indeed George Milner that fed Duggie to run into the box & he was chopped down, penalty award. Duggie jumped up, dusted himself off & stuck the penalty away. Parity after 10 minutes of the 2nd half. 5 minutes later we were in front, & it's Duggie with a leading role again. He takes a corner which is cleared back to him, he floats in a lovely cross & Sam Liversidge meets it with a powerful header into the onion bag, 2-1.

Teddy Bloor picked up a knock & was replaced by Cammy Hough

Frickley had got their passing working by now & the interchanges between Walton / McGinley / Milner / Duggie / Haze were particularly effective.

Goal of the game came from Haze - of course it did. Long ball forward, he lets it drop. 1 touch to control it, 2nd touch to lob the keeper from 25 yards out. That's his 42nd of the season & his 65th career goal - 42 makes him the 3rd highest Frickley scorer in a season of all time. & that was the last action of the game.

A well deserved win for the Greens, we created our own problems in the first half but created all the problems for the home team in the 2nd half.

83 through the gate & a decent number of Frickley fans - massive thanks again to anyone who travelled.

WEBMASTER MOTM - some strong displays 2nd half. Jake Turner dominated his domain, Jammer was on point all game (& was even commended by a home fan!), McGinley & Milner featured well but the Glitterball has to go to Tom Dugdale. The man is on fire at the minute, well done Duggie, scored 1 & made 1.

Next up, Stocksbridge away tomorrow - hopefully see you there