Wednesday 4th March 2009

Worksop Town 3-1 Frickley Athletic -- UniBond Premier Division

This has got to be one of the best games we have been to this season - it had almost everything - great goals, some superb football, fights, penalty, penalty save, poor officials, crowd banter -- what a feast all for just £8........

Missed our regular Tuesday night game - I wasn't feeling too well, but the planned game, Ilson v Marine was postponed anyway..

As luck would have it, Worksop were scheduled to play Frickley on Wednesday at the Watnall Road home of Hucknall Town - and as this is only 2 minutes from where we live decided to give it a go. And are we glad we did!! This was brillliant - a real feast of all that is good, and not so good, about the beautiful game.

Andy White, a former Mansfield Town favourite of mine, started up top for Worksop, while Peter Knox, on loan from Eastwood Town lead the attack for Frickley. The first 5 minutes saw 5 or six decent chances created, and only last ditch blocks and good keeping kept the scoresheet blank. Knox was looking very lively and his touch superb, causing all sorts of problems for the Worksop defence.

Midway through the 1st half, Worksop took the lead completely against the run of play. A super through ball by Tomlinson found ANDY WHITE who took it in his stride, shrugged off his marker before sliding the ball under the advancing keeper. Cool finish, great through ball.....

From the restart, Frickley poured forward and produced several decent chances, but the home defence was working overtime and looking solid.. UNTIL ....Frickley winger Danny Clarke ran the ball to the goal-line and appeared to have over-run the ball for a goal-kick - but the linesman never flagged, the Referee never whistled and when keeper Ogden palmed the ball half-heartedly to the ground, PETER KNOX was on hand to tap in from about 6 inches. Well - bedlam ensued - the respect campaign went down the toilet, as the Worksop players went ape, and the linesman was verbally assaulted from all sides.

The ball did look like it had gone out for a goal-kick, but come on lads, play to the whistle..and remember - respect the officials...

As it transpired, the goal spurred the home team on - their pent up anger and frustration clearly visible - and they were in front again straight from the off - Galloway finding Tomlinson on the right and his cross tucked away neatly by ALEX CALLERY. H-T 2-1 Phew!!!!!!

More attacking play from both teams in the second period, but it was the home team who went further ahaed on the hour mark - again a slightly controversial goal according to the Frickley faithful, but it looked ok to us. A strong challenge in midfield saw the ball deflect into the path of CHRIS ADAM who calmly ran on to the edge of the box before firing wide of Adam Nicklin and into the far corner.

Would have been 4-1 if Callery had converted a penalty on 80 - he hit it just at the right hight for Nicklin to dive to his left and push away. The spot-kick was won by Andy White who ran into the box and was unceremoniously dumped on his backside by Walsh.

How the game finished with all 22 players on the pitch is something of a mystery. Frickley's Jonathan Groome was a bit reckless on more than one occasion, and when Chris Adam threw a punch at Steve Robinson, everyone assumed it would be a straight red for the Worksop winger - amazingly he received only a yellow --- lucky sod....

Anyway, overall a great game of football and about time we saw a really good 'un.....F-T 3-1

Report from Worksop website

Admission £8

Programme -didn't bother

Tea/coffee -- didn't bother

Attendance 174

Weather - freezing

Saturday, hoping to go and see Gedling MW take on Borrowash Vics