Focus on Frickley

FC United travel to Frickley Athletic looking to maintain their unbeaten record in 2010 and more importantly gain more points towards the push towards the summit of the league. Craig Phillips provides this preview"¦

After some indifferent form towards the end of 2009, the Reds have began 2010 in better spirits picking up two draws and three wins - including a 6-1 away win at Nantwich Town - that has seen them move up the table towards the play-off zone.

Wednesday’s postponement against Kendal will have been more of a hindrance than a help to United’s form on the count of the fact they are playing with confidence at the minute and another rearranged fixture means an even busier March and April as the end of season closes in.

Karl Marginson’s side now sit in 11th position in the league, and after midweek fixtures are now ten points behind the play-off places but have games in hand on no less than seven of the ten teams that sit above them in the table.

So Margy’s men know that it’s imperative to get a result in West Yorkshire on Saturday when they face a team they drew 0-0 with at Gigg Lane less than a month ago.

Saturday’s opponents are more affectionately known as the Blues by their supporters, who were founded in 1910 but changed their name from Frickley Colliery to their present name in 1974.

The club joined the NPL in 1976 but moved up the pyramid and spent six seasons in the Conference in the 1980s. They finished second placed in the league in 1986 (when only the top team was promoted to the Football League) and ironically were relegated the following season.

In 1986, the club also put in its best performance in the FA Cup, reaching the third round by beating League side Hartlepool United to earn an exciting local derby with Rotherham United, which they lost 3-1 at home in front of a crowd of 5,800.

This period was arguably the brightest in the club’s history, with the great season in the league and the cup run the club were flying high, and had four players in the England non-league team at that time.

However, following their relegation the club have never got back to the Conference. Last season, they finished 11th in the league but have been struggling a little this season, currently sitting in 17th position with 26 points from 23 games.

The Blues come into the game on the back of a good away victory with a last minute goal from Adam Lee giving them a 2-1 win at Worksop Town on Wednesday night, a victory that ended a run of six league games without a win. But the Blues have not recorded a home victory in the league since a 4-2 win over Hucknall Town at the end of October.

The Blues are also the second lowest scoring team in the league; behind Durham City, only managing 27 goals in their 23 games to date.

United drew 0-0 with the Blues last month at Gigg Lane after debutant Adriano Rigoglioso was sent off. However, last season the Reds enjoyed a league double over the Blues with a 2-0 win at home, which followed a 3-1 away win for United with goals from Simon Garner, Kyle Wilson and Danny Williams.

Saturday’s game is the usual 3pm kick off with admission priced at £8 adults, £5 OAPs and under-16s get in free when accompanied by an adult (otherwise £3). So get yourself to that football ground and help FC United continue its push up the league table.