HT: 1-2
FT: 5-5

After Cliffe Football Club had a 3-0 win last week, manager Keith Tiplady, decided to go into this game against Anlaby Park with an unchanged first XI.

The match began with a sluggish first 15 minutes, this game being Anlaby’s first competitive of the season. Each team settled and shortly after Anlaby managed to score from a free kick. Cliffe FC soon drew level within five minutes after a chance landed at Kevin Taylor’s feet where he managed to fire a shot through a crowd into the net. Anlaby had the chance to go 2-1 up when the referee awarded a penalty. The resulting penalty was saved by Cliffe FC ‘keeper, Ally Harris, after diving to his left. Cliffe FC ‘keeper was called into action after some poor defending and ball watching leading to a good save. Poor marking again lead to Anlaby getting their second in the last minute of the half, Cliffe FC went in at half time 2-1 down.

Keith Tiplady decided to change personnel bringing on Tom “Animal” Hogg for Dave Heron, after the restart Hogg had instant impact scoring with his first touch! After a lofted ball over the top by Anlaby, Cliffe FC sprung the offside trap and seemingly had easily caught the opponent’s forwards yards offside, but the referee let play continue and thus lead to Cliffe FC going 3-2 down. Hogg’s impact continued, by defending from the front by closing everything down, his second touch lead to his second touch! The score read 3-3 now. Cliffe FC went 4-3 down after some lacking goalkeeping with the ball ending up palmed into the net from a corner.

Cliffe FC once again got level when Tom Hogg’s performance continued with him setting up Jamie Sedman for Cliffe’s forth. Cliffe FC then took a 5-4 lead with, that man again, Tom Hogg setting Taylor up for his second and Cliffe’s fifth. Cliffe had a chance to seal things when Sedman squared for Aaron Tiplady to miss an open goal, one he was not at all happy with. At 5-4 Cliffe FC had to see the game out but things were no to be when, in the last minute, Anlaby were awarded a second penalty of the game.
The penalty was scored with one of the last kicks of the game making it 5-5 at the final whistle.

Many Thanks goes to Cliffe FC sponsors The Bread Bin and Pure-Silk and The New Inn for their hospitality.

With 10 goals scored, I’m sure the next game with 10 goals involved that Cliffe FC will want to make sure they score the majority of them.
Cliffe FC’s next game should be a test for them on their first competitive travels away from home at Cross Keys.

Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, M. Birch, A. Moughan, K. Simpson, R. Wood (Faxon), K. Taylor, S. Birch, A. Kirkham, C. Walker (A. Tiplady), D. Heron (Hogg), J. Sedman

Cliffe Scorers:
Taylor(2), Hogg(2), Sedman.

filed under: Match Reports by Malcolm Bryce
no comments

HT: 0-0
FT: 3-0

Cliffe Football Club began their competitive lives in East Riding County League Division 5 with their first league fixture at their home Oxen Lane against Haltemprice Rangers.

Cliffe had being on their travels all of pre-season and whilst playing at a level worthy of victories, had not managed to register a win.

Cliffe FC began very brightly nearly scoring after 10 seconds with Dave Heron reacting to a loose ball in the midfield hit a 25 yard effort that the Haltemprice ‘keeper spilled with the visitors’ defence having to scramble the rebound away from goal.

Cliffe settled into the match very early, pinning back the visitors for almost the whole first half with, Cliffe FC’s captain, Scott Birch and Andy Kirkham winning every challenge in the middle of the pitch. The Cliffe FC wingmen, Kevin Taylor and Chris Walker consistently causing a threat the the Haltemprice defence. The visiting ‘keeper had a lot to do, pulling off save after save, also with his defenders having to clear Cliffe FC’s chances for corner after corner. With these vast amounts of corners and attacking play, Cliffe FC became inpatient and began to try and force the game, switching to a ’shoot on site’ mentality which suited to visitors, allowing them a few half-chances themselves. Cliffe goalkeeper, Ally Harris had little to do, but what he did do he did right, sweeping up through balls and dominating his area all game. His centre-half combination in front of him, Kevin Simpson and Andy Moughan, were solid even though they had little to do. Kevin Simpson’s dead ball kicks were accurate and effective.

Cliffe FC dominated this half and despite this went in at half-time goalless at 0-0.

The second half begun at a frantic pace much like the first, Haltemprice won their first corner and had a couple of dangerous free-kicks following clumsy tackles, these were easily dealt with and Cliffe FC switched on and began to dominate once again. Full-backs, Matt Birch at right-back, and Rob Wood at left-back, were able to become wing-backs and get forward and supply crosses even allowing Matt Birch to have an decent effort on target. Tackles began to get more competitive and Taylor was the one made an example of receiving a yellow card for a challenge on the touch-line.

As the hour mark approached Cliffe FC manager, Keith Tiplady, began to become anxious as he’d seen his team dominate only to concede, this wasn’t the case when Scott Birch played a cross from the edge of the box on his outside foot leaving Chris Walker to head in off the underside of the bar to make it 1-0, with the manager jumping for joy (and relief.) Jamie Sedman continued his good form pre-season scoring after 65 minutes firing home from 6 yards after a one-on-one chance that he calmly put away. Cliffe FC took a 2-0 lead. Chances came thick and fast for Cliffe FC, and when David Evans replaced Matt Birch, Evans also was able to supply telling crosses and passes. Lee Faxon replaced Wood shortly after at left back and maybe should of scored after being indecisive and eventually being closed down, denying the chance. Cliffe FC’s last sub saw the introduction of Danny Fisher for Kirkham who kept the Haltemprice threat at bay, causing slight panic in the visitors’ midfield by his presence alone. The clock began to run down and Cliffe FC continued to pile on the pressure with Taylor, Scott Birch, Walker and Sedman all having chances to put a third goal in for Cliffe FC. Cliffe FC got their third in the closing minutes after great link-up play between 5 Cliffe FC players, ending with Heron feeding Sedman who’s clever touch found Walker with time and space to pick his spot to fire home and grab a brace and wrap up the game for Cliffe FC.

A very pleasing and relieving day for Cliffe FC, registering their first win and first clean sheet, an ideal start for their league campaign in East Riding County League Div. 5.

Many Thanks goes to Cliffe FC sponsors The Bread Bin and Pure-Silk and The New Inn for their hospitality.

It was about time Cliffe FC performed like this and had a result to show for it at the final whistle.

Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, M. Birch (Evans), A. Moughan, K. Simpson, R. Wood (Faxon), K. Taylor, S. Birch, A. Kirkham (Fisher), C. Walker, D. Heron, J. Sedman

Cliffe Scorers:
Walker(2), Sedman

Cliffe Bookings:
Taylor (yellow)

filed under: Match Reports by Malcolm Bryce
no comments