Evo Stik Premier Division
Frickley Athletic 1-0 Colwyn Bay
Jacob Hazel scored the winner for Frickley
A fantastic 61st minute strike from Jacob Hazel saw ten-man Frickley Athletic overcome Colwyn Bay at the SW Jackson Utilities Stadium.
Louis Bruce had returned to the Blues’ side at right full-back but he lasted just 35 minutes before being harshly sent off for a trip inside the box. However, goalkeeper Sebastian Malkowski pulled off a superb save to push away Adam Morgan’s spot-kick.
With Bruce returning to the side Bailey Gooda was left on the substitutes bench whilst Tom Davie moved to his more orthodox right wing position. Ross Armstrong had recovered from the injury that forced him off against Ashton United.
On a blustery afternoon some good play down the left in the 3rd minute saw Tyler Williams pick out Brad Grayson but the striker’s first time left-footed shot flew wide of the far post from 15 yards.
John Cyrus headed over following a Blues corner in the 12th minute and a minute later a great ball from Williams saw Hazel hold off Antonie Boland as he broke into the box but Craig Ellision pulled off a great one-handed save to deny him and then recovered to block the follow-up from Williams.
The Blues were getting on top and another good move saw Williams clear down the left but Ellision pushed away his low cross before it reached Hazel six yards out only for the loose ball to be seized on by Luke Hinsley but he fired over from the edge of the box.
A great tackle from Bruce denied Jordan Harper as he broke away following a Blues corner in the 28th minute but the game changed 7 minutes later. A long clearance from Ellison caused uncertainty on the edge of the Blues box with Adam Morgan getting past Jameel Ible but being caught by Bruce as he stumbled into the box. The referee, Mr Sporne, immediately pointed to the spot and then rather harshly produced a red card only for chaos to ensue as no-one knew who he had shown the card to! After discussions with various players the penny dropped with the referee who after finally consulting with an assistant referee opted to dismiss Bruce.
Morgan stepped up to take the spot-kick himself but Malkowski superbly pushed away Morgan’s left footed shot.
Two minutes before the break Grayson found himself in space on the right of his box and his excellent cross picked out Hazel in front of goal but the ball bounced up and over the bar off him. Almost immediately the visitors broken down the left through Harper and his cross was fired over the bar by Carl Lamb.
Both teams made half time substitutions with Bay Replacing Harper with Josh Sumner whilst the Blues replaced Steven Jeff with Gooda.
A deep free-kick from Malkowski was met by a looping header from Ible two minutes after half time with the ball drifting inches wide of the far post in the wind but Bay responded with Lamb heading wide from a Shaun Dowling cross.
At the other end Grayson went twice in quick succession, firstly turning to fire wide from 25 yards and then seeing his curling free-kick from the left bounce up in front of Ellison with the ‘keeper having to push the ball over the bar.
A great run from Williams on 59 minutes saw him cross for Hinsley to poke the ball wide at the near post from close range before the Blues broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. A long clearance from Gooda sent Grayson away down the left and he hooked the ball into the path of Hazel who let the ball bounce before lashing a fierce shot into the top left hand corner from just inside the box.
Another deep free-kick from Grayson drifted just wide of the far post in the wind with Ellison beaten whilst Lamb fired an 18 yard shot just wide for Bay.
The Blues were content to protect their lead for most of the remainder of the match with the visitors rarely troubling the Blues defence.
Frickley Athletic: Malkowski, Bruce, Jeff (Gooda 45), Hinsley, Cyrus, Ible, Davie, Armstrong, Hazel, Grayson (Wood 90), Williams. Subs unused: Akeroyd, Ellam, Stratford.
Referee: Mr. P. Sporne
Attendance: 237
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report.