Frickley boss targets “massive upset”

FA Trophy 

Frickley Athletic manager Dave Frecklington

Dave Frecklington is targeting a “massive upset” as Frickley Athletic head to Radcliffe FC for the FA Trophy third qualifying round.

Frickley face difficult test against the NPL Premier Division outfit.

“It is a freebie,” Frecklington told Non League Yorkshire.

“We are away at Radcliffe who are the league above and are a very good side.

“They have good players and the level is a big jump.

“We have earned the right to play them by beating Prescot and we go there with no fear and if we can win the game and win more funds it will be massive for the club.

“I think it would be a massive upset but we believe we can there and get something.

“We have nothing to lose.”

If their defensive record is anything to go by then Frickley have a chance. 

However, their biggest problem recently is the lack of goals which is concerning Frecklington.

“I’m on repeat because I say the same things every week,” he said.

“It is not our build-up play or any endeavours, we just haven’t got the end product and that’s why we are where we are in the league.

“If we had taken the chances we have created (across the season) we’d have probably been second or third.

“That’s the reality of it and we need to start taking our chances.

“Defensively we have really turned the corner.

“(The Yorkshire Amateur draw) was our second clean sheet in three.

“We are unbeaten in four – Stockton away, Bridlington away, Prescot away, Yorkshire Amateur away.

“Two clean sheets, only conceded two in four so it is a great response to Dunston.

“The lads have been really good defensively but we just haven’t scored many goals and that’s a problem.”

But he remains “happy with the squad” moving forward.

That has been another concern as the squad has been rebuilt three times since the summer for various reasons.

“What we need to be is settled because it has been turbulent since I have been at the club,” he said.

“We have had the pandemic and at the start of the season we lost half of the squad.

“I want to keep this squad and I feel we have a good squad.

“It is just about bleeding the new lads into what we want to do and with progress and how we coach and manage I think we can turn them into a really good outfit.

“It is just going to take time.”

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