Frickley 2 Runcorn Town 1

Sebba, super subs & a super strike sink Scousers

We often hear the term 'impact substitution' but as my good friend, & fellow male model, Ken Whitehead said yesterday "if they're not coming on to make an impact, why are they coming on?". Ken is available for motivational speaking engagements, as well as catalogue work, at very competitive rates.

Where were we? Oh yes, substitutes. This was a game that had seen Frickley have another opportunity to put the tie to bed before half time, yet it was the visitors who had the best chance to take a first half lead, after Jameel was adjudged to have tripped a Runcorn player. From where I was stood a hundred yards away it was never a penner. Anyway, nay bother, The Pole In Goal saved it - of course he did! This was one significant turning point, the other one being the introduction of 3 impact substitutes (sorry Ken, I've said it) in the 2nd half.

Frickley started brightly & Haze had a great chance early on when he made space & tried to lob the keeper but he lifted it just over. Next up Tommy D had a shot deflected out as far as Steve Hopewell who hit a cracking knock just over. Haze had another chance shortly afterwards but same end result, just over. Then came the penalty award. & save. Next up a precision through ball to Ben Wiles who had a good shot pushed out for a corner. Then a Darker exocet was met by Jammer but it cleared the bar. On the stroke of half time Rich Patterson fired the ball home from a Jammer header only to be ruled out for offside.

Half time 0-0

Onto the front foot straight away, a good ball in by Nodder set up Dugdale but he snatched at it a little & it went over.

**Spoiler alert** impact substitution incoming - Rhys Davies replaced Ben Wiles at this point & this is when we started to close the game out. Rhys made a good run up the right hand side, fed it back to Haze who hit the sweetest side foot into the top left corner from 20 yards. This was doubly wonderful as the Webmaster had 55 & 56 minutes as his Golden Goal ticket!!! Then Rocksteady Teddy Bloor replaced Josh Nodder (impact substitution). Rhys lost the ball in midfield but battled back well to retrieve it & get it to Jason Yates who fed Dugdale. Dugdale pinged in a cross that invited Steve Hopewell to bang it home but he stood aside to allow Teddy Bloor to power home on his first start for the Blues. At that point Teddy was averaging a goal every 5 minutes but sadly he couldn't maintain his average.

Kane Baldwin came on to replace Hazel & made a superb goal line clearance - the liner gave it offside but Kane made sure the home line wasn't breached. It was breached, however, with about 5 minutes to go - Julien with a cracking strike (no mention of Sandy however - one for the younger listeners). The Blues saw out the game without too much alarm & put themselves in the velvety ball bag on Monday.

Fair play to the visitors - they gave us a game & gave a good account of themselves but anything other than a Frickley win would have been unjust & would have potentially caused a divorce in the Fearn household (see his interview on Frickley Athletic TV You Tube channel - proud sponsors of Gavin Allott - for details).

So not the most sparkling display by the Blues - the windy conditions didn't help either - but they did the job & we'll all be sat round the wireless on Monday (or whenever / however they do the draw now) for the 1st round qualifying draw.

Chads bucket collection raised £100.74 - an amazing response by fans yet again & well done Chad for facilitating. 188 through the gate, thank you to everyone who came to the Wezziecana.

WEBMASTER MOTM - more of a team performance today but Rhys Davies would have been a good shout had he played for longer but for keeping us in the game, being a superb keeper & for signing up for 2 more seasons the Glitterball goes to Sebba (pictured with his hero, Peter Bonetti).

Next up is Alvechurch away on Saturday