The Owls welcomed Frickley Athletic to Bradley at the beginning of the hectic Christmas schedule. After winning 2-1 in Yorkshire in their first away fixture of the season, Clee were out to complete the double and establish some breathing space over the Blues.

At the start of play, the visitors sat just one place below the Owls. However, the hosts did have two games in hand, as well as being one point better off.

Following on from the disappointing home defeat at the hands of Sheffield and with a fortnight to re-group, Marcus Newell decided on a change to a 3-5-2 formation. The three central defenders were Matt Bloomer, Mark Gray and Oli Donald with Tim Lowe and Jon Oglesby operating as wing-backs. Captain Alex Flett was partnered in midfield by Liam Dickens and Liam Davis. Brody Robertson and Andy Taylor completed the line-up.

It was much more mild than recent games as the Owls started well. Davis fed Oglesby, who could not keep his shot down. Both Lowe and Oglesby were getting well forward in the opening skirmishes and the team were adapting well to the management’s changes. Davis was again involved when he fed Lowe but a defender did enough to put him off and he could not hit the target.

Frickley threatened in the 12th minute through Jacob Hazel. He burst clear of the home defence but Richard Walton was quickly off his line to snuff out the attack. It was an end-to-end contest as Flett almost found Taylor in a promising position and then, from a long throw, Cameron Hough headed just wide for the Blues.

The long throw was a tactic for the visitors all afternoon. Nicky Darker was called upon time and again to propel the ball into the box from both flanks. This did not go down well with the home support, who are used to seeing a more pleasing style of football from the Owls. It also led to a disjointed flow to the game as Darker was required to traipse from one side of the field to the other at regular intervals.

Just after the midway point, Walton was called upon to make a good save from Frickley’s dangerman Gavin Allott and then Tyler Blake clipped the outside of the post from 20 yards.

There were some meaty challenges going on in midfield with Davis, in particular, the apparent target on a number of occasions. He was caught in the 32nd minute with an elbow from Darker. The referee ruled this to be accidental but this was a generous interpretation by the official.

Davis dished out his own retribution moments later when he caught Darker with a late challenge. This led to a melee involving many players and a booking for the home midfielder. The match threatened to boil over as Frickley’s robust approach antagonised the Owls.

Half chances continued to be the order of the day, with Robertson finding the side netting for Clee and Danny Frost heading narrowly wide for the visitors.

As a very physical first half drew to a close, it was clear that the style of the match was suiting Frickley more than the home side. However, Bloomer, Donald and Gray were coping well with the aerial bombardment.

HT Cleethorpes Town 0 Frickley Athletic 0

Dickens was withdrawn at the break to be replaced by midfielder Jack Richardson. The substitute was immediately involved when his scuffed 30 yard shot went well wide.

A shot from the edge of the area went high over the bar from Hazel and Gray made a superb interception to break up a dangerous attack from Frickley. The Owls responded via good play by Lowe, who found Robertson but the pacey striker fired wide.

The Blues persisted with the long throw, which was being met by hoots of derision from the home faithful. It was certainly not an entertaining spectacle but Allott went close to breaking the deadlock. He headed over from close range as Walton could not get through the sea of players to collect.

The Owls made their final two changes of the afternoon after 67 minutes. Firstly, the bruised Davis was replaced by the dependable Peter Winn and then it was a welcome return for striker Danny North, who came on for Taylor.

North was offering something a little different and held the ball up well on a couple of occasions. This change in play led to Clee’s best moment of the afternoon. Winn forced the keeper to dive low to his right to tip the ball away and, from the corner, Donald found space but his header was agonisingly wide.

A scrappy match seemed destined to finish goalless. Away keeper Sebastian Malkowski was subbed in the 80th minute after suffering a leg injury.

Just when it seemed that Clee had weathered everything that Frickley could throw at them, the visitors found the decisive moment with four minutes left. It inevitably came from the hands of Darker. His throw in was punched away by Walton but Darker picked up the loose ball and crossed to the far post. Jameel Ible rose highest to nod home.

The central defender was injured in the process and a lengthy delay ensured that there would be 8 minutes of added time. In the fourth of these, Clee had a massive appeal for a penalty turned down when Robertson looked to be impeded in the box. Flett shot over and Gray could not beat the substitute keeper as the Owls frantically strived for the equaliser.

The referee’s whistle signalled an end to a frustrating afternoon for Clee, who suffered successive home defeats for the first time since 2014.

FT Cleethorpes Town 0 Frickley Athletic 1 (Ible 86) Attendance: 252

A disappointing match where Frickley’s approach disrupted the Owls. It was certainly not pretty to watch but, ultimately, proved to be effective. However, Clee can console themselves with the fact that they tried to play football throughout and this is what most of the paying public want to see.

Also, there is absolutely no excuse for the disgraceful behaviour of a couple of visiting players after the final whistle. By all means celebrate a hard earned away win but there is no need to abuse home supporters in the process. Two of Frickley’s players used very insulting language and seriously overstepped the mark. There is no place for these kind of antics at any level of the game.

To their credit, a couple of visiting fans apologised for the team’s behaviour.

The busy festive period continues with two away games. On Boxing Day, the Owls travel down the A46 for a Lincolnshire derby against Lincoln United (postcode: LN6 0DY). It would be good to see a large travelling support and please note the early kick-off time of 1pm.

Next Saturday (30th – 3pm), it is a lengthy journey to face Kidsgrove Athletic (postcode: ST7 1BQ). Clee triumphed 2-1 in a competitive match early in the season and will be keen to return home from Staffordshire with the points.

It is then back to Bradley for another derby on New Year’s Day (3pm) against Spalding United. The reverse fixture saw the Owls record a comfortable 3-0 win over the Tulips on a sweltering August afternoon.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone reading a very Merry Christmas.

UP THE OWLS!