Frickley sing Blues after County Cup exit
SHEFFIELD AND HALLAMSHIRE FA SENIOR CUP HALLAM 2 FRICKLEY ATHLETIC 1 THE BLUES' trials and tribulations in knockout competition continued as they were dumped out of the County Cup by lower league Hallam at Sandygate.
Frickley boss Billy Heath fielded a strong side against the Northern Counties East league Premier side but they were unable to take advantage of the numerous chances they created, especially over a good first half.
Ben Simpson replaced Adam Nicklin in goal, with Duane Grace coming into the defence in place of Matty Bird who hadn't been registered for the required seven days to enable him to play. Phil Lindley replaced the injured Matty Bloor in midfield as the Blues started with a 4-5-1 formation.
Danny Clarke was released by Danny Walsh down the right after seven minutes and he cut inside only to fire over the bar.
Shortly afterwards Steve Heath met a corner from the left with a powerful header that flew straight over. Lee Morris met a Clarke cross with a goalbound header only for David Darwent to acrobatically push the ball out from under the bar.
The home side were rarely threatening and Jonathan Groome went agonisingly close after 29 minutes when Walsh's cross from the right was cleared and fell to him on the edge of the box but his first time shot was deflected inches wide of the left hand post.
Hallam's first serious attack came in the 40th minute and brought the opening goal. Ryan Tate scampered away down the right, before picking out Simon Asquith who controlled the ball well before firing past Simpson.
Immediately, Neil Towler replaced Groome as the Blues switched to a 4-4-2 formation. Four minutes later Clarke thought he'd equalised from close range but his effort was disallowed for offside against Morris. A minute later he headed wide from 15 yards, following a cross from Chris White from the left.
Two minutes after half time Clarke flicked on a long throw-in for Towler but his shot on the turn was straight at Darwent. But the Blues did draw level on 68 minutes when Heath headed against the underside of the crossbar from another White corner and Towler forced the ball in from close range.
Six minutes later Clarke's right wing cross was met by a great header from Morris from eight yards but a deflection off a defender's head guided the ball just over the bar.
Hallam substitute Martin Brissett broke clear down the left on 76 minutes and set up Tate who hit an angled shot that came back off the far post and with Keir Hannity looking certain to tap in the loose ball, Grace made a brilliant tackle to deny him the opportunity.
However, four minutes later Hallam scored what proved to be the winner.
Scott Preece was left on his own on the left of the box to collect a cross-field ball and he coolly curled a great 18-yard shot round Simpson and into the bottom right hand corner.
The Blues did not have a game on Saturday but return to league action this weekend when they visit promotion chasing Bradford Park Avenue.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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