Evo Stik Premier Division
Frickley Athletic 5-1 Buxton
Sam Akeroyd scored after just 19 seconds for Frickley
A goal after just 19 seconds by Sam Akeroyd set the Blues on their way to an emphatic victory over ten-man Buxton at the SW Jackson Utilities Stadium.
Buxton captain Greg Young was sent off after kicking out at Jacob Hazel in the 8th minute but Buxton equalised through Brad Barraclough before two goals from James Walshaw and a goal each from Tom Davie and Luke Hinsley sealed the win with goalkeeper Sebastian Malkowski saving an 87th minute penalty.
Blues’ boss Karl Rose was without club captain Jameel Ible who started a four-match suspension for his sending off at Ilkeston a fortnight ago whilst Brad Grayson was working away so unable to start. However, midfielder Simon Lenighan, who was released from his contract at Rotherham United at the weekend, rejoined the club in time to return with Akeroyd moving out to the right with Tom Davie continuing at right full back and Macaulay Parkinson replacing Ible in the centre of the defence.
The Blues took the lead virtually straight from the kick off as Hinsley played Walshaw into space on the left and his deep cross came off the head of Young for Akeroyd to steer the ball under Myles Wright at the far post.
Young received his marching orders seven minutes later when he bundled Hazel over from behind mid-way inside the Blues’ half before proceeding to repeatedly kick the striker while he was on the ground. This prompted Buxton to replace former Blues’ striker Ashley Burbeary with Alex Whiles.
Not for the first time this season, the Blues failed to make the extra man count as they allowed Buxton to control much of the rest of the half.
Wiles put a low 20 yard shot wide on 11 minutes for the visitors but Tyler Williams went agonisingly close for the Blues on 17 minutes when his flicked shot from a Steven Jeff’s cross from the left drifted inches wide of the far post.
Buxton equalised on 20 minutes when Barraclough rose the highest to meet a free-kick from Jamie Green to head into the bottom right hand corner from 12 yards.
Niall Doran curled an 18 yard shot just wide for Buxton on 29 minutes before Walshaw and Hazel exchanged passes on the edge of the box for Hazel to burst clear into the box but Wright blocked Hazel’s left footed shot with an outstretched leg.
Barraclough fired wide virtually straight from the kick off as Buxton attempted to repeat the Blues’ feat from the first half but it was the Blues who struck next. A long clearance from Malkowski was collected by Walshaw who controlled the ball well under pressure from Joel Bembo-Leta 22 yards out before turning to place a well struck shot just inside the right hand post.
The Blues extended their lead on 60 minutes when Akeroyd’s left wing corner was flicked on by Walshaw for Davie to blast in from 4 yards out.
Another Akeroyd corner six minutes later saw Hinsley attack the near post this time and he glanced his header past a stranded Wright.
Walshaw wrapped up the scoring in the 80th minute with a well controlled 8-yard volley from a tight angle following a deep free-kick by Jeff.
Buxton were gifted a chance to reduce the arrears from the penalty in the 87th minute when Malkowski mis-controlled a back pass and brought down Alastair Taylor as he dispossessed him but Malkowski made up for his effort by saving Ricky Ravenhill’s spot-kick.
The win is the club’s highest ever victory over Buxton in 73 meetings between the two clubs and the highest home League win since beating Bradford Park Avenue 6-2 in January 2006.
The Blues now move up to 10th place in the table, just 7 points adrift of the play-off positions.
Frickley Athletic: Malkowski, Davie, Jeff, Hinsley, Cyrus, Parkinson, Akeroyd (Wood 77 mins), Lenighan, Hazel, Walshaw, Williams (Wakefield 84 mins). Subs unused: Grayson, Stratford, Hood.
Buxton: Wright, Belezika (Grayson 56 mins), Green, Ravenhill, Bembo-Leta, Greg Young, Alastair Taylor, Harris, Barraclough, Burbeary (Alex Wiles 9 mins), Doran. Subs unused: Worsfold, Bembo-Leta, Ryan.
Referee: Mr. N. Hawksby
Attendance: 259
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report.
Well done Frickley real progress this season, hope it gets better for you.