Chasetown 3 Frickley 4

The Scholars get schooled!

A lot of you have been asking me for briefer match reports which focus mainly on the goals, so here you go (alternatively, my phone packed up & I lost all my match notes......YES, I do take notes!!!) - courtesy of Lichfield Live website:

Play-off chasing Frickley Athletic came from behind to complete the double over Chasetown FC on New Year’s Day.

The Scholars were on the front foot from kick off and Callum Lovatt was blocked in front of goal from an early corner.

Visiting keeper Hugo Warhurst denied George Cater inside the first three minutes with a fingertip save.

Chasetown kept knocking the door and went ahead after seven minutes. Cater got on the end of a deep Will Whieldon cross and chipped to the back post where Matt Gardner headed home unmarked. The hosts almost doubled their lead with a well-worked move between Chris Baker and Jack Langston, with the latter smashing a shot against the Athletic crossbar.

Frickley equalised on the stroke of half time with a corner that was flicked on and Tyler Blake sneaked in to score.

The Yorkshiremen stunned their hosts with a goal a minute after the restart as Jacob Hazel netted from inside the box. Chasetown responded immediately and Whieldon backheeled into the path of Langston who drilled the ball along the ground into the far corner.

Frickley regained the lead after Scholars defender Chris Baker was short with a header back to Curtis Pond and Blake nipped in to toe poke the ball home.

Chase drew level again in the 75th minute with another drive from skipper Langston from a similar angle to his earlier equaliser, but an end to end game saw the away side steal the points inside the final three minutes as Hazel stole in to net his second goal of the game.

THIS IS ME AGAIN - Les Bleus / Verts gave Hugo Warhurst his debut & Sam Race took a place on the bench. Frosty was missing after picking up a knock against SPS on Boxing Day. Making the big step up from Sheffield United to Frickley is a big, big ask (puts on tin helmet.....) but Hugo was equal to it - once he'd settled, he commanded his box & communicated well with his defensive line. His calling was Stancliffe-esque & he made a point blank save in the 2nd half that was Malkowski-esque. Well done Big Man.

We took a bit of getting going in the first half & I said to my co-commentators "If we can get in at half time 1 down & regroup, we've got a chance" - about 5 minutes later Tyler Blake scored to make it 1 all, just before half time......

The pitch was a bit of a pudding - I suspect an hour or so of it 'pelting down' would have put the fixture in danger of postponement or abandonment. It would have been interesting to get '2nd best ever referee at the Wezziecana' Barry Lambs thoughts, as he was in attendance (he was looking hot sisters!!). Obviously both teams had to play on it but it somewhat negated our passing & running game.

Haze scored 2 more, he's scored in 14 of his last 15 games & they were his 25th & 26th goals of the season. Now then - here's the contentious bit.....Andy 'Stainless' Steel reckons they were his 48th & 49th career goals for the Blue Revolution but I reckon they were his 49th & 50th. Andy & I have agreed that the only way to settle it is for the pair of us to strip to the waist, slather our finely honed upper torsos in oil & Greco-Roman wrestle each other until one of us gives in or passes out. If there is sufficient interest we will go head to head on the hallowed Wezziecana turf & tickets will be available & all proceeds go to the club. Either way, it's a magnificent return by Jacob.

WEBMASTER MOTM - clearly a mention goes to Hugo on debut, & Cammy Hough & Jammer were strong (once again, main line on commentary "Jameel tidies up at the back"). Big Gav put in a Captains knock yet again (on his 150th appearance) - his tracking back & tackling back is becoming the stuff of legend & Haze pulled the home team all over the shop once he'd gone through the gears but the Glitterball goes to Tyler Blake - bagged a couple & was a constant threat all game.

207 through the gate, including a good number of Frickley Ultras (Senior & Junior sections) - thank you for your continued support.

Next up, we're at home to Loughborough on Saturday, kick off 3pm. Hopefully see you all there.

#forzasebba
#forzafrickley