Blues complete draw treble at Whitby Town
Whitby Town 2 Frickley Athletic 2 FRICKLEY Athletic left Whitby with their third draw on the spin and their first goals of the new Evo-Stik Premier League season.
The Blues twice led at the seaside through Nialle O'Rafferty and Danny Clarke but had to settle for a share of the spoils after the hosts hit back both times.
Town started brightly and Adam Nicklin was forced into some early action when he held a 20 yard free-kick from Jimmy Beadle in the opening minute.
The visiting goalkeeper smothered a strong shot from Tony Hackworth on the edge of the box before initiating Frickley's first dangerous attack in the 15th minute.
Adam Lee flicked on Nicklin's clearance for O'Rafferty to control and drill an angled 18 yard drive into the far corner of the Whitby net.
The persistence of Charles Fisher on the right in the 26th minute saw him whip in a cross but O'Rafferty's header was well saved by David Campbell, while Danny Clarke burst down the middle and found Adam Lee whose angled shot was deflected over.
Whitby equalised on the half hour, Jamie Owens beating two defenders before firing past the advancing Nicklin.
Leon Henry was frequently being fouled, and a free-kick by McGuire in the 37th minute was quickly cleared, play switching to the other end where Nicklin bravely got down to smother the ball at Andrew Campbell's feet.
An angled 25-yard drive by Owens was palmed away by Nicklin at full stretch in the 43rd minute as Town tried to take control.
The second half saw Frickley pressing, Fisher linking with Clarke in the first minute and crossing for Adam Lee whose flick on was tipped over the bar by David Campbell.
Simon Sturdy replaced Dean Jones in the 62nd minute and Adam Lee went close with a 25 yard free-kick before the visitors regained the advantage in the 66th minute, Danny Clarke pouncing on a missed clearance to score from 12 yards.
Once again Town responded, although Frickley were down to ten men, Ben Chapman being treated for an injury, when defender Darren Craddock overlapped on the right to rifle in an angled drive after 71 minutes.
It needed a fine save from Nicklin to deny Andrew Campbell in the 75th minute, and the visitors almost poached a third goal a minute later, Clarke breaking down the left and slipping a pass inside to Adam Lee, whose shot was blocked at point blank range.
The Town keeper saved his side again in the 85th minute when he held a free-kick by Danny Walsh and then got down to smother an overhead kick from Clarke.
Jamie Owens and Ben Chapman were the men of the match.
See Thursday's Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express for all the latest sports news and results from across the region.
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Weather for Wakefield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
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