Nicky Darker looked like Terry Butcher during an all-action display for Frickley Athletic
Spencer Fearn hailed his Frickley Athletic side’s “commitment” to the cause after the gutsy 4-1 victory in a full-throttle battle with ten man Buxton.
Richard Patterson, Jacob Hazel and captain Gavin Allott (2) netted for Frickley, whose assistant manager John Stancliffe played in goal with a broken thumb.
There was also all-action man Nicky Darker, who “looked like Terry Butcher” after having to wear a head bandage following a clash with Buxton striker Anthony Wilson in the first half.
‘Worse for wear’ @frickleyafc 4 Buxton 1 – PSF pic.twitter.com/S0a8H3Abjf
— Onion Bag (@TheOnionBag1) July 18, 2017
Fearn told Non League Yorkshire: “Thanks to Martin McIntosh for bringing Buxton to Westfield Lane.
“It was a very competitive game and they are a good side, so we are all pleased with the performance.
“Every player who represented us tonight worked their socks off. Assistant manager John Stancliffe played in goal with a broken thumb, an injury he did it in the warm up.
“Nicky Darker was patched up and looked like Terry Butcher with the bandages around his head after the incident in the first half.
“This is a measure of how committed all the lads are to our club. We now move on to Pontefract on Saturday, which will be a very tough game.”
The first ten minutes saw Buxton looked very dangerous, but Frickley dug in and weathered the storm and eventually Patterson scored from a Tom Dugdale corner.
Then on about 25 minutes there was a flashpoint when Wilson head butted Darker and was dismissed.
Hazel made it two in the second half he ran on to a through ball from Allott and finished from 20 yards. Liam Hardy pulled one back for Buxton when he rounded Stancliffe.
Allott scored two goals in the last ten minutes, both originating from superb crosses from ex – Scunthorpe United scholar Lewis McMichael. The first was a tap in and the second was a superb finish from 18 yards out.
In the other matches taking place, AFC Emley drew 1-1 at Shelley.
Thackley were beaten 2-1 by Silsden – Mike Garrod got their goal.
A late goal from Carl Stewart won the Dave Holland Memorial Trophy for Scarborough Athletic in a 3-2 victory over their former landlords Bridlington Town.
Young forwards Ryan Smith and Nathan Keightley both hit doubles in Penistone Church’s 4-2 success at Hallam.
Hemsworth Miners Welfare lost 4-0 to Sheffield FC.
fair comment from Spencer and the lads certainly showed great commitment but thought it was a bit daft leaving a lad on with an head injury in a friendly, fair enough we want wins even in pre-season but its not win at all costs and surely keeping players fit etc for the real thing is more of a priority