result: 2-4 L
Cliffe Football Club would once again line-up against Thorpe United away from home for their last pre-season friendly and with no wins in all their other friendlies and two straight losses, Cliffe FC manager, Keith Tiplady, was probably seeking a performance rather than the win before the league begins.
Cliffe FC kicked off and both teams began the game vastly panicked with the game’s pace at cut-throat pace for the first 10 minutes, Cliffe’s Scott Birch got the ball down and fended of 3 challenges and fed Chris Walker on the left wing who cut in at the edge of the box and bent the ball over the goalkeeper and into the top right-hand corner to put Cliffe FC ahead. The hosts dominated much of the possession with the wind in their favour, the host’s equalizer came in a dire moment for Cliffe, after failing to clear the ball well enough, a Thorpe player picked the ball up from just past the half-way line on the left side of the pitch, played a looping high ball but the bounce was badly misjudged by Cliffe FC ‘keeper Ally Harris and he was left to chase to ball in vain back to goal only to crash against the post as the ball rolled in to make it 1-1. Thorpe continued to dominate and before Cliffe knew it the score was 3-1, one being a nice individual dribbled effort. Harris since the lob incidence was carrying a knock on right knee-cap and so Keith Tiplady had to change his goalkeeper an with no substitute goalkeeper, full back Matthew Birch stepped up and took the number 1 shirt. For the last 5 minutes of the half Cliffe started to come out an play.
After a half-time team talk from disgruntled manager, Keith Tiplady, Cliffe FC came out and played a lot better than the first 40 minutes of the first half limiting Thorpe’s chances and stand-in ‘keeper Matthew Birch not having to do much at all. Thorpe did however earn three corners in a row that Cliffe dealt with easy enough. Thorpe had one attack down their right flank with the squared ball Cliffe defender, Andy Smith put into his own net with Thorpe players lining up to finish it off if Smith didn’t. The game then settled with few chances being created from either team, Tom Hogg continually battled with the Thorpe defence with his best chance in the first half that he’ll feel he should of finished. Chris Walker had another chance similar to his goal in the first half but this time put it over the bar with not long left. Nathan Summers who replaced M. Birch’s position at right-back played a very competent and hardened game up and down the right-hand side. Andy Moughan’s temper got the better of him and had to calm himself down and avoid being sent-off. Cliffe were the better side of the half and Cliffe FC got another goal for their efforts with Jamie Sedman latching very well from a ball down the right watching his shot fly past the host’s ‘keeper.
The game finished with a 4-2 loss for Cliffe FC for the second game running.
It would be an understatement to say Cliffe FC haven’t had the greatest pre-season especially with no wins but these games have no points at stake and I’m sure both the Cliffe players and manager, Keith Tiplady, will have learnt a few valuable things in the past 6 games they’ll take into the forthcoming season in East Riding County League Div. 5.
Cliffe Team:
A. Harris (Summers), M. Birch, D. Evans (Smith), A. Moughan, R. Wood, J. Sedman, L. Faxon (Hullah), S. Birch, A. Kirkham, C. Walker, T. Hogg
Cliffe Scorers:
Walker, Sedman
