Frickley Athletic 0 Fleetwood Town FC 1

Saturday September 1st 2007 UniBond League Premier Division

Crowd 239

Goals: FTFC – Andy Bell (41mins)

Fleetwood Town maintained their 100% record thanks to a strike by Andy Bell on the brink of half time. Led heroically by skipper Ricky Mercer, who put behind him the memory of his last gasp dismissal at Ashton United on Bank Holiday Monday to produce a towering defensive display, Fleetwood valiantly overcame the blustery conditions to travel home with another priceless three points.

The first half was virtually one way traffic with the visitors again displaying a brand of stylish, passing football rarely seen at this level. That said, the final ball invariably failed to match the quality of the build up and with half time beckoning it appeared that the home side might go in at the break level. However, a surging run from Ciaran Donnelly created an unexpected opening, and when Bell pounced on a loose ball in the six yard box, last season’s top scorer made no mistake, dinking the ball over the prostrate Athletic keeper.

The second period was played in the face of a gale force wind and inevitably prevailing conditions became something of a twelfth man for the home side; their `up and at em’ style boosted significantly by the swirling wind at their backs. Fleetwood dug in with Mercer a particularly implacable presence. Goalkeeper, Danny Hurst, tipped a cross cum shot over the bar and generally commanded his box with impressive authority. As the minutes ticked by, the frustration of the home side increased and several flashpoints led to a string of bookings; Town’s only yellow card handed, inevitably, to Nathan Pond.

A supposed four minutes injury time ultimately proved to be three minutes longer than anticipated and the final whistle was greeted by players and supporters alike with relief. This was certainly not a pretty performance but if Town are to secure the promotion they seek it is results like this which will prove decisive. Mercer was man of the match; fine displays too by Hurst, Keiran Walmsley, Donnelly, Jamie Milligan and Bell, while Phil Denney and Phil Robinson were as combative as ever.

Fleetwood Town Team: Danny Hurst, Guy Heffernan, Shaun Gray, Phil Robinson, Ricky Mercer, Nathan Pond, Kieran Walmsley, Jamie Milligan (Martin Moran), Phil Denney (Steve Foster), Andy Bell (Alex Taylor), Ciaran Donnelly

Frickley Athletic Team: John Hood, Chris Hilton, Steve Ball, Danny Walsh, Steve Heath, Phil Lindley, Chris White, Carl Wood, Danny Davidson, Lee Morris, Chris Gowen Subs: Nathan Hotte, Richard Tracey, Scott Turner

Officials: Keith Lawson (Referee), Phillip Booker, Peter Sporne