Westfield Lane, South Elmsall. 18/02/17

EvoStik Northern Premier League

Back to the Lane for us after the inevitable postponement at Teversal meant our two game week was reduced to the one game at Brighouse on Monday.

Frickley had added to their threadbare squad with Shiraz Khan returning for a second loan spell from Halifax and a ‘Galactico’ joining on loan from Alfreton. The Galactico in question was Adam Priestley, a man who has played on the same pitch as the current World Champions, a man that has 13 caps for his country, a man that will surely give the Blues the boost they need to survive in this division.

After the gut wrenching disappointment of the defeat at home to fellow strugglers Corby a couple of weeks ago the Blues had travelled to high flying Nantwich in midweek. Three Nantwich goals shortly before half time told a familiar tale for Frickley but a rousing second half performance gave some hope. Right back Ross Barrows, also on loan from Halifax popped two in after seventy minutes and the Blues had the Dabbers on the ropes. A last minute Joe Pugh free kick crashed off the post, I know it is cliche but when you are at the bottom, lady luck really doesn’t help you out.

So Rushall were the visitors, the Pics were the early season pace setters but Frickley had taken all three points in the reverse fixture thanks to a solitary Jack Waters goal. Since then, they have had a faltering time and had not won in eight league and cup games before the visit to West Yorkshire.

The Blues took advantage of the visitors poor run of form, Adam Priestley scoring the only goal in the 17th minute, latching on to a poor back pass from Rushall full back Marcus Jackson before rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle. The Gibraltar international joined the Frickley scorer-on-debut club as the Blues held on for the vital three points. I thought the win was well deserved as the Blues put in a shift, Sam Akeroyd was playing for the first time in a while and absolutely bossed the midfield. Frickley were the better team while Akeroyd was on the pitch, it was only when he went off that Rushall came back into the game and Frickley hung on a tad at the end. The Pics could have equalised in the 89th minute but Macca pulled off an unbelievable block on the line after Seb was rounded by Jazz Luckie.

Onwards and upwards for the Blues as they have a difficult trip to Barwell in midweek.

Featured image – The Dribbling Code – here are the rest of his brilliant photos