EASTWOOD CFC 3-2 FRICKLEY ATHLETIC

Eastwood CFC………....3 (Knight ’21 pen, ’24. Parton ’47)
Frickley Athletic……...2 (Burns ’11, Margetts ’18)

Skipper’s double trumps Frickley.

Eastwood entertained Northern Premier (SE) league side Frickley Athletic to the Halbrooke on a somewhat chilly afternoon. Manager Dave Frecklington always sends out a competitive team and today was no exception.

The South Yorkshire visitors made the brightest start and were 2 up after 18 minutes. After 11 on the clock Danny Burns found himself in space in the box and volleyed over Mark Rathbone for the lead. 7 minutes later Johnny Margetts latched onto a through ball, cut inside and fired the visitors 2 ahead.

The Red Badgers woke up and began to play and reaped their rewards just 3 minutes later. Sam Moore was bought down in the box and skipper Kieran Knight duly scored from the spot. Minutes later and the scores were level. Knight received the ball on the left hand flank just inside the area and sent a low cross shot past the Frickley ‘keeper into the far corner.

Athletic are a decent outfit and it certainly showed as the game wore on. Journeyman veteran striker Bradley Wells was prominent and most forward play went through the tall imposing attacker and his strike partner Margetts.

The game was an absorbing affair with both sides enjoying good possession and creating some decent chances in the final third. Eastwood’s back line was performing well and the midfield were gaining a foothold in the game.

Level at the break and the second period produced a raft of substitutions on both teams. Barely 3 minutes had elapsed when the home side edged in front. David Boafo made progress down the right and fed Sub Jordan Turner close to the bye-line and his cute cut back was turned neatly home by fellow Sub McKenna Parton.

Despite a host of chances at both ends there was nothing further to trouble the scorers and Eastwood held on to enjoy a fine win against more that decent opposition. A fine outing for the entire playing squad.

EASTWOOD CFC PLAYING SQUAD ~ Mark Rathbone, David Boafo, Ross Parker, David Leak, Callum McGarry, Blair Anderson, Jack Andrews, Joe Harrison, Jermain Hollis, Kieran Knight (C) Sam Moore, Ben Hutchinson, Ben Wallis, Caden McKnight, Matt North, Lewis Scott, Alfie Wilkinson, McKenna Parton and Jordan Turner.