Blues still seeking first league win
Matlock Town 1 Frickley Athletic 0 FRICKLEY continue to search for a first league win of the season after falling to a slender defeat at Matlock last night.
James Knowles' 20th-minute strike was enough to give the hosts three points and condemn the Blues to a second defeat in four days.
The return of striker Lee Morris, signed from Buxton, failed to inspire Frickley to their first Evo-Stik Premier Division scalp, although fortune again turned its face on them.
Morris replaced Adam Lee in attack with Nialle O'Rafferty also returning, while Michael Wood partnered Steve Heath in the heart of the Blues defence.
The Gladiators were quick out of the blocks and forced two early corners but Frickley came back and a 15-yard shot on the turn by Leon Henry was well held by Mick Buxton in the 13th minute.
O'Rafferty collected a ball in midfield five minutes later and weaved his way past two Town defenders only to lose control as he burst into the penalty area.
Matlock snatched the lead in the 20th minute, a shot by Danny Wood being blocked and James Knowles putting in the rebound.
Exchanges were mainly in midfield until the stroke of half-time when a free-kick from Patrick McGuire was only half cleared by the home defence and Wood tried an overhead kick which zipped inches wide of the far post.
Some good play by Frickley on the resumption led to a low cross by Fisher from the right being diverted behind by James Lukic in the 50th minute.
Matlock responded with Steve Warne going close with a shot from the edge of the penalty area two minutes later.
Another accurate free-kick from McGuire in the 57th minute led to Steve Heath putting a glancing 12-yard header just off target.
The Blues increased the tempo, Henry picking out Mark Whitehouse in the 83rd minute and his 20-yard drive was saved by Buxton.
Four minutes later, Ben Alger went close with his 18 yard shot skimming past the right hand post.
There was a last-gasp effort from Frickley to level, McGuire having a 22 yard free-kick diverted in the 90th minute and, from the resulting corner kick, Danny Clarke saw his shot blocked on the line.
In the second minute of stoppage time a cross from the left by Whitehouse dropped to Morris whose eight yard volley came back off the bar.
Matlock: Mick Buxton, Kris Wilcombe, Lee Featherstomne, Liam King, Adam Vales, James Lukic, Danny Wood, Steve Warne, Nathan James (Ben Alger 67min), Ross Hannah, James Knowles (Dean Cropper 71min)' subs not used, Ben Turner, Mark Haran.
Frickley: Adam Nicklin, Charles Fisher (Simon Sturdy 61min), Ben Chapman, Richard Dunning, Steve Heath, Michael Wood, Danny Clarke (Jonathan Groome 61min), Patrick McGuire, Lee Morris, Nialle O'Rafferty (Mark Whitehouse 75min), Leon Henry; sub not used, Andy Lee.
Referee: Mr R Bartley
Attendance: 255
See Thursday's Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express for all the latest sports news from around the district.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
