Fylde end Frickley’s six-game winning home run

FRICKLEY Athletic saw their six-game winning home run ended by AFC Fylde on Tuesday night but the Blues were unlucky not to take maximum points from their Evo-Stik Premier Division clash.

Manager Karl Rose looked for an immediate response from his side following their 5-0 loss at Witton Albion at the weekend, their heaviest defeat of the season - and he certainly got that.

A minute’s silence was held before kick-off for Frickley fan John Uttley, who died last week, and he would have been delighted with the way the hosts started.

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Top-scorer Gavin Allott saw a 20-yard drive tipped over the bar by Fylde goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe and Chris Howarth fizzed a low effort just wide soon after.

Allott had two more half-chances to fire the hosts ahead but the visitors were not completely out of exchanges and Blues stopper Tom Woodhead had to be alert to tip an Adam Farrell header over the bar just before half-time.

The breakthrough came in first-half stoppage time after the Blues had mounted plenty of pressure on the visiting goal. Allott and Luke Hinsley both had efforts blocked on the line before the former was fouled inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Allott dusted himself down to drill home the spot-kick as the referee blew for the interval.

The mid-table visitors started the second half well with Harry Winter and Joe Booth having efforts well saved by Woodhead.

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The Blues absorbed plenty of pressure and looked to hit their visitors on the break, with Jimmy Ghaichem ending one such move by firing a tame shot at Hinchcliffe.

Jake Picton came even closer minutes later when he beat Hinchcliffe with his effort but saw the post come to Fylde’s rescue.

The same player put a glancing header inches wide from a 65th-minute corner kick but the visitors grabbed their equaliser eight minutes later when a low James Dean cross was deflected into the net from David Buck.

Frickley looked for the winner and Hinsley rattled an upright and saw a shot blocked on the line while Hinchcliffe blocked a drive from Allott

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The high tempo continued until the final whistle and Fylde almost pinched the points on when Dean broke free of the Blues defence but fired his shot straight at Woodhead.

Frickley: Tom Woodhead, Terry Barwick, David Buck, Jake Picton, Luke Danville, Danny Stimpson, Chris Howarth (Jason Yates 85), Matty Bloor, Luke Hinsley, Gavin Allott, James Ghaichem. Unused subs: Luke Jeffs, Chris Wood, Joe Davies, Zack Levers.

Fylde: Ben Hinchcliffe, Steve Haslam, Adam Sumner (Paul Jarvis 60), Matt Hughes, Michael Taylor, Bradley Barnes, Joe Booth, Harry Winter (James Dean 60), Adam Farrell, Michael Barnes, Richie Allen. Unused subs: Glenn Steel, Jack Dorney, James McCarthy.

Referee: Mr Wayne Grunnill

Attendance: 196.

See this week’s Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express for all the latest sports news from around the area.