So all eyes were going to be on the team sheet today to see who would be playing after the turbulent week we had managerial wise. There had been some bad feeling from the previous incumbent which had come through in the local Free Press. He had felt he’d been “stabbed in the back” and that he should have been given a little more time….etc etc. As I’d previously stated, he / they were top blokes and were just getting the team together and that i’d no axe to grind.
The rumor-ville� was in full flow today, i’ll try and break them down and offer my own thoughts :
1) the previous incumbent had contacted several clubs in and around the West Yorkshire touting some of Brids players – why ? Is he really that pissed off with what went on ? Surely the results speak for themselves. Why would he want to go and tout the players to other clubs – Its just not cricket I tell you major.
2) with regards to point 1, the following has been said about players moving to other clubs – Greaves to Guisley , Lackie to Goole , Stoneman to Bradford , Clarke to Ossett Alb� – now personally I think Stoney may move on, may even go and play somewhere near to his home (Newcastle) but i’d like to think the other lads will stop, each one of them played a massive part in todays comprehensive victory. I hope none of them go.
3)� Billy Heath, Bobby Carroll and Neil “tick” Towler may all return to the club – Without doubt Ticks return would be welcomed as he is still our top scorer and only played a third of the games. Billy and Bobby have not long re-signed at Frickley, so this move would be a real surprise.
Well to the game. As early as the fifth minute we had a great shout for a penalty, when loanee Alex Rhodes was upended in the box but it wasn’t given. From then on Clitheroe realised they were in for a battle today and the “expected 3 points” were not going to be as easy as recent results had hinted at.� 0-0 at half time, for the second game running Greaves and Rhodes were a massive handful – due to the fact that Liam Berry (and Neal Redfearn) have left the club, Phil Harrison returned to the front to impose himself. The other noticeable absentee was Pete Naylor who didn’t show today.
Second half was tremendous, and one of the best teams displays ive seen in a while, 1st goal was a brilliant volley from big Wayne Harratt, then Clitheroe have a couple of efforts on goal and an absolutely tremendous save from Mick Clarke kept it at 1-1. Clarkey had his critics, but in hir return to Brid and one teeny lapse on Tuesday, has been outstanding in goal. Lackie on for Harrison and things went from strength to strength with Wayne Wallace, Tom Greaves and Alex Rhodes all netting.� The back 4 were awesome today and the other loanee Frank Belt slotted in really well. Grayston also had an immense game.
There was passion, there was commitment, there was pride and above all there was a win. Its taken a while, i’m sure we all knew it was there, but it took the experiences of the past week to bring it out. I hope the team see they are a decent unit and can only get stronger if they stay together.
The chairmans comments coming off the field were a tad offensive� and uncalled for, but he has the right to say what he likes i suppose.
Well Done guys.
