Frickley Athletic 2 v. Stocksbridge Park Steels 0 - Sheffield Senior Cup

Tuesday 6th March 2012
at Tech 5 Stadium, Westfield Lane, South Elmsall
Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Quarter Final
Frickley Athletic (1) 2
Ben Turner 6, Ollie Ryan 49
Stocksbridge Park Steels (0) 0
Admission £8, Programme £1, Attendance 112
Frickley Athletic:
Stephen Dickinson, David Cyrus, Ben Turner (Liam Schofield 90), Grant Darley, Stuart Ludlam, Lincoln Adams (Mark Gray 58), Kelvin Bleau, James Ashmore, Danny South (Peter Knox 74), Ollie Ryan, Ryan Mallon.
Unused sub. Jon Hood
Stocksbridge Park Steels:
Ben Scott, Daryl Weston, Kevin Davies (Ryan Harrison 79), Richard Haigh, Brett Renshaw, Anthony Tansley, Richard Stirrup Andy Ring 45), Matthew Telling, Jack Muldoon (Danny Joynes 79), Scott Hogan, Alex Callery.
Unused subs. Cole Payne, Peter Collinge
As straight forward and academic wins go, this one was err ... straight forward and academic.
Stocksbridge didn't acquit themselves very well at all, while Frickley took control early on and eased through to another semi final appearance at a canter.
After five minutes, Steels were awarded a corner, which Frickley's keeper Steve Dickinson dealt with easily, then quickly turned defence into attack by releasing Kevin Bleau, who raced off up the pitch and earned the Blues a corner at the other end.
James Ashmore found Lincoln Adams from the corner, who knocked the ball back towards him and Ashmore's second cross was headed home by Ben Turner, whostealth like, had advanced unnoticed and unmarked into the six yard box at the near post
Brett Renshaw prevented Frickley increasing their lead, when he headed a Ben Turner cross off the line.
Moments later, the Stocksbridge keeper made a fingertip save to turn Danny South's header over from a James Ashmore corner.
Alex Callery, who was a Frickley player himself until very recently, tried his luck from 20 yards out, but he hit his effort straight at Steve Dickinson.
With half time approaching, Ollie Ryan set up Ben Turner, but his shot from 18 yards out flew wide of the goal.

Steve Dickinson, playing to the crowd

On 49 minutes, David Cyrus hit either: a hopeful punt or defence splitting long pass, up the field, that caught the Stocksbridge defence flat footed, while Ollie Ryan followed the trajectory of the ball, ran through on his own, waited for the visitors keeper to advance from his line and slotted home the Blues second goal.
Just after the hour, Stocksbridge were awarded a penalty, when a strong gust of wind blew Scott Hogan over in the box.
The decision to award such a soft penalty, seemed to embarrass Hogan into taking the kick rather feebly, to where Dickinson could get down to save it with ease.
It was all over now bar the shouting, but SPS still had to clear a James Ashmore corner off the line late in the game, after a long range free kick from the same player had deflected over the crossbar.
Pete Rinkcavage's team rarely looked threatened against one of his former clubs, as the Sheffield Senior Cup holders slipped out of this seasons competition with more of a whimper than a bang.
The home side didn't exactly bust a gut to win this game ... because they didn't need to!
But they took charge of the game early on and you can only beat what's in front of you, while concentrating on playing your own game.
To all intents and purposes, by working for each other, moving off the ball to provide options and staying focussed, Frickley created the impression that they had won easily, by keeping it tight and bossing the game throughout.
A great all round team performance all told.
It was good to see another member of Frickley Athletic's title winning Under 19's side getting a run out tonight too.