Pontefract Colls 2 Frickley 2

Frickley gave the dictionary definition of a Jekyll & Hyde performance on Saturday - they weren't at the (Ponte) races in the first half but came galloping back into contention in the second half & were heading for a deserved win until the home team equalised quite fortuitously in Fergie Time.

Fair few changes to the starting line up - Hugo & Killer Watt were missing as a result of their collision towards the end of the Ossett game, & were replaced by recent signings Sam Wilson & Charlie Jemson respectively. Tyler dropped back into a more central midfield position as Todd Jordan is still injured & Luke Hinsley made his 2019 debut up top with Haze. So we had Sam Wilson, Charlie, Ousman, Karl & Luke with a total of 2 2019 appearances between them before this game - although Luke has got 207 previous appearances in the bank.....

Familiar faces for the home team - Fab Bailey & Picton in the starting line up & Jeffberto Carlos on the bench

Big Ken brings it home (& this is a cracking report by Ken):

The El Classicoal Derby started with early chances for Ponte’s Mike Dunn and Spencer Clarke both shot narrowly wide. It wasn’t too long before the home side took the lead, skipper Spencer Clarke nodding in a 16th minute in-swinging corner.

Frickley had a superb chance in the 26th minute when Greg Young beat the keeper to a Jamie McGuire free kick but his goal bound effort was cleared by a defender on the line. Pontefract went straight down the other end, and new keeper Sam Wilson brilliantly tipped Chris Jackson’s drive onto the bar.

If corners were Frickley’s weakness then Jamie McGuire free kicks were Ponte’s, Jameel Ible going close from the next one.

The Azzurri opened the second half in the perfect manner when Luke Hinsley lashed in a volley from 25 yards after less than 90 seconds after the restart. A through ball hit Haze on the back on the head to set Luke up for his shot - Haze is claiming an assist!!

We were ahead in the 66th minute when Sam Liversidge fired in a Tyler Walton dragback, from the edge of the box.
The next 20 minutes were a feisty midfield scrap with goalmouth action at a premium, Jacob Hazel going closest. But Ponte sub Nick Guest managed to scramble the equaliser in time added on. Although there was still time for Charlie Jemson, to blast inches wide and honours finished even.

A full blooded derby & a very watchable game of footy & that's not always the case in these types of games.

369 through the gate & huge numbers from Frickley - thanks again to everyone who made the long journey.

Interviews courtesy of Frickley Athletic TV You Tube channel

WEBMASTER MOTM - good team performance 2nd half so I'm going to mention the players who stood out over the whole 90 minutes. The Fire was excellent & drew grudging respect from the home team players & fans - Jamie isn't the tallest player in the world but my God he wins a huge amount of headers in the engine room. He was partnered well by Sam Liversidge - when asked about his goal he gave the classic understatement along the lines of "I just looked up & hit it". Luke Hinsley gave his typical Duracell Bunny performance which we've all grown to love & his goal was a real quality strike. Sam Wilson pulled off a quality double point blank save to keep it at 1 nil & the first half & I suspect it would have been a different result had we conceded. But I'm going to give the Glitterball, his first one, to Charlie Jemson - he came in to the pivotal number 5 role & slotted in well with Jam & Youngy & nearly won it for us in the dying embers. Salut!

TWITTER POLL MOTM - the above is sort of backed up by the Twitter poll results. Luke Hinsley came out on top, with Youngy & Sam L joint 2nd & Jamie just behind them & Jammer also polled. Thanks to everyone who voted, these votes will all be collated into the calculations for March Player of the Month award