Massive disappointment for Frickley...

So using 'Rock / Paper / Scissors' as an analogy, Evostik Premier comfortably beats Petes Patisserie County Senior, despite the shock of a goal against on 25 minutes. Sticky League beats Biccy League?? Or Glue Gun beats Choux Bun if you will.....

Where were we? Oh yes, despite the setback of a goal by the opposition (are they the home team or the away team???) the Blues cantered away to a straight forward victory & a place in the semi finals. With 8 changes in either personnel or position from Saturday, including 3 U19s in the starting 11 (plus Deadly Dan Palmer on the bench), the Blues were quite disjointed at first but the shock of the goal got them to work through the gears & the goals. It was great to see Bailey back in a blue shirt too & he cruised through the full 90 minutes & set up the 4th goal - welcome back Big Man! It was also good to see the return to the fold of John Lufudu - he is still very rapid!!

It was pretty neutral for 25 minutes until Frecheville had a breakaway & scored despite Josh Diggles best efforts to drive the attacker wide. Fair play to the opposition for the way they took the goal & fair play to Digger as this was pretty much the only real action he saw but he did very well to keep his concentration throughout the game & neutralise any balls that came into the area - he even had to deal with me talking to him from behind the goals in the first half at one point.

The Blues got straight back on it & Joe Pugh immediately had a long range effort saved by the keeper, & he repeated the treatment on 30 minutes with an effort just over the bar. He finally got his rewards shortly afterwards, ball driven forward by the skipper, headed inside by Mangham (I think, I was talking to Digger) & Joe controlled it on his chest & smacked it into the onion bag from on the corner of the 18 yard box - absolute quality - we've been spoiled with King Curtly on Saturday & this 3 days later. So we went to the break at parity

HALF TIME - FRICKLEY 1 FRECHEVILLE 1

First action of the 2nd half, John Lufudu with excellent pace down the left, cuts into the box & beats defenders for fun - one of them didn't like the fun & took him down. Waide Fairhurst steps up to plant the penner home. Without wishing to be disrespectful to the opposition that was game over & within a few more minutes it was more than game over. Same combo - Lufudu into the box & passes to Waide who picks his spot - 3-1. & that was Waides final action for the evening as he came off to give Deadly Dan Palmer a run out. Dan had a great chance shortly afterwards but just took the extra touch which allowed the keeper to save & push the ball out for a corner.

Unfortunately Frecheville started to put in a few over-robust challenges from now on which somewhat spoiled the game & my appreciation of them - they had given us a good run for our money & naughtiness was unnecessary. Charlie Mahon had to go off with an injury & was replaced Gaz Stohrer.

Final action of the game was a good break by Bailey, ball inside to Luke Mangham & a lovely little flick from himself leaves Deadly Dan Palmer filling the onion bag for his first goal for the first team.

& that, as they say, was that - Frecheville worked hard but ultimately the superior fitness & skill of the Frickley boys won the day.

WEBMASTER MOTM - Rhys was solid again & Macca adapted well to his centre half position. Lufudu threatened with his pace & Joe Pugh & Waide had too much in the locker for the Frecheville defence - but I'm going to be like a stuck record & pick LUKE MANGHAM again. Tidied up in midfield & set up the 1st & 4th goals