Romulus 1 Frickley 2

The long & winding road leads to a victory

I don't really like plastic pitches, mainly because I've never seen us win on one - but that all changed yesterday as the Greens defeated a resolute Romulus who are fighting for points at the foot of the table. I still don't like plastic pitches mind......

Same starting 11 as last Saturdays curling,but with Cammy Hough & Rich Patts returning to the bench after injury & suspension respectively.

Frickley had an early chance, good work by McGinley on the right who put in a quality cross for Tyler Walton whose half volley went over & then great interplay between Sam Liversidge & Tyler Walton to feed Gav who touched it on to Haze & his drive just missed the top corner, skimming the angle of crossbar & post. More pressure from Frickley, Ben Algar corner leads to Sam having a shot blocked & Reece whips the resulting clearance in for Gav to get a flick header which just drifted past the post. That was to be the Big Mans last action of the game as he fell in the box & landed awkwardly which meant he had to come off & was replaced by Duggie. I've messaged Gav this morning & he's sore - I don't think he'll be doing any power lifting this week!!! The skippers armband was given to Jameel as a result.

It was all Frickley in the first half but the main talking point for everyone was Gavs injury

HALF TIME - ROMULUS 0 FRICKLEY 0

The home team came out with more intent 2nd half but never really threatened anything & Frickley were creating the chances again - Danny Burns having a close range header saved & Reece McGinley has a cross semi cleared to Haze who smashed it just over from the edge of the box. The Greens got their just rewards on 55 minutes, great work on the right flank by Reece who pulls the ball back to Tyler on the edge of the box & it's a lovely finish by him, almost passing it into the onion bag, 1 nil.

Sam Liversidge got the ball to Haze who absolutely burnt his defender & shot well when he got into the box but it hit the side netting. Then Ben Algar sets him up for a repeat dose but same end result.

Romulus achieved parity on 72 minutes as the Greens lost concentration for probably the only time in the game, Jake Turner had had nothing to do up to the point when he picked the ball out of the net.

The Greens had a great chance to retake the lead as Tyler Walton was felled in the box but Hazes penalty wasn't the best he's ever taken & the keeper saved it but Frickley weren't to be denied. A long ball out of defence from Danny Burns to Reece McGinley. The home defender took an air shot as an attempted tackle which left the ball at Tyler Waltons feet. His cross got a touch from a defender which was just enough to sit the ball up for Tom Dugdale to apply a deft finish at the far post on 78 minutes.

Spen made a couple of changes, Richie Patts replaced Darkenbauer & Ishy D replaced goalscorer Dugdale.

Reece McGinley had a great break at the death but the keeper showed strong hands & pulled off a good save. The Greens saw out the game without any further dangers & got the 3 points that they deserved.

WEBMASTER MOTM - if there was a group award it would be the defensive unit who pretty much gave Jake the afternoon off, the Burns Unit being the outstanding of them. Haze & McGinley were unplayable at times & Sam Liversidge did a great job linking defence with attack. But the stand out player was Tyler Walton, scored one, made one & won the penalty - the lad can play & he takes the Glitterball

100 through the gate & probably 50% of them were Frickley fans - good effort by all concerned especially given the issues with getting to the game due to a closure of the M1, so we all had to take the scenic route!

Next up we play Swallownest on Tuesday in the quarter final of the Senior Cup - but Paul Hudson told me we're getting some more of the white stuff on Tuesday & Wednesday so bring your sweeping brushes again!

Salut!