HT: 2-0
FT: 4-2 W

Cliffe FC were on their travels this week in the second round of the East Riding County Cup to against Nafferton Rec. Reserves. Cliffe FC went into this game with 5 straight wins and looked to take this form into this match and put themselves in the hat for the next round.
Malcolm Bryce writes…

It was nearly deja-vu for Cliffe FC when, just 15 seconds in, Rune Eriksen had a chance to open the scoring but was unable to get hold of the shot and the Nafferton ‘keeper held the shot. Very few chances for either team materialised but two yellow cards did for Cliffe FC, both Andy Moughan and Andy Kirkham getting booked both for sliding tackles on the wet and greasy surface. Cliffe FC soon opened the scoring, Kev Taylor, who this week switched to left wing, scored from a weak clearance from a corner by the home team and finished off the chance with his weaker left foot for 1-nil Cliffe FC. Although been 1-nil down the home side continued to play a high defensive line and looked mainly to catch Cliffe FC forwards offside, they did not however cope when, Kirkham burst from the midfield through on goal one-on-one and finished like a striker, nicely lifting the ball over the stranded ‘keeper for 2-nil Cliffe FC. Cliffe FC goalkeeper, Ally Harris, had little to do in the first half but when needed did make a good save from a freekick and also punching the ball out from a dangerous Nafferton corner. The teams went in at half time 2-nil to Cliffe FC.

After the turn-around Cliffe FC continued to look the more lethal side especially Dave Heron, on the right wing, who had the host’s left back beaten at every opportunity. Cliffe FC did score through a Scott Birch header from a corner, but was ruled-out due to a foul on the ‘keeper. Heron’s prowess paid dividends for substitute Nathan Summers when Heron beat the fullback and squared the ball for Summers to finish at the second attempt for 3-nil Cliffe FC. Nafferton did manage to score after being awarded a penalty for a foul by substitute Rob Wood with Harris only managing to get a touch to the ball. This was one of the very few chances the host’s had due to the solid back-four of Kev Simpson, Dave Evans, Andy Moughan and Matt Birch. 3-1 Cliffe FC. It was 4-1 Cliffe FC straight from the restart when a long ball to Taylor was controlled by him near the corner flag and then managed to get past the challenging defenders and smashed to ball into the net for his second and Cliffe FC’s forth. Cliffe FC began to defend in a lack-lustre fashion and this lead to Nafferton getting their second in the last five minutes. 4-2 Cliffe FC. At the re-start Scott Birch decided to have a pop at goal straight from kick-off that had the ‘keeper scrambling to see it narrowly over. Steve Hullah was unable to make an impact again in his short showing but avoided a scuffle like last week. Nafferton continued to press for a third in injury time but, it was too late for a comeback and the final whistle blew and Cliffe FC continued through to the next round.
Many Thanks goes to Cliffe FC sponsors The Bread Bin and Pure-Silk.

With this win Cliffe FC go through to the next round of the East Riding County Cup and have 6 straight wins in all competitions. Cliffe FC are once again in cup competition next week, away again, against Market Weighton Reserves in the Harold Robinson Cup and will be looking to put their names in the hat for the next round of that cup also.

Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, K. Simpson, D. Evans, A. Moughan, M. Birch (Wood), D. Heron, A. Kirkham, S. Birch, K. Taylor, T. Hogg (Summers), R. Eriksen (Hullah).

Cliffe Bookings:
A. Kirkham, A. Moughan.

Cliffe Scorers:
K. Taylor (2), A. Kirkham, N. Summers.

filed under: Match Reports by Malcolm Bryce
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HT: 2-0
FT: 4-0 W

Cliffe FC this week arguably had their most significant game this weekend, facing legaue leaders South Cave at home, who began the day top of the table 2 points clear of Cliffe FC having played one more game than forth placed Cliffe FC.
Malcolm Bryce writes…

Cliffe FC had the perfect start, scoring within the first 10 seconds, Rune Eriksen scoring on his first start from a cross from Kev Taylor. South Cave, now one-nil down, didn’t take well to this and began to contest every referee decision and the game turned into a physical game, much to the dislike of the away team. Cliffe FC chances came and went and the score remained 1-0. South Cave had a chance to level things, after Matt Birch was adjudged to have fouled the forward. The resulting penalty was easily saved by returning Cliffe FC ‘keeper Ally Harris and the score remained one-nil to Cliffe FC. Cliffe FC continued to apply pressure and it paid off in the last minute of the half when Chris Walker won an aerial challenge with the opposition ‘keeper to make it 2-nil. This collision resulted in Walker receiving a broken nose for his troubles. The half-time whistle blew at 2-0 Cliffe FC.

Cliffe FC Manager, Kieth Tiplady, gave his team talk and iterated to his players not to rise to South Cave reacting to challenges and sent his players back out. The half begun and Cliffe FC continued to be the better side and the visitors hardly had a sniff at goal due to the solid Cliffe FC back-four of fullbacks, Kev Simpson and Matt Birch, and centre-backs, Dave Evans and Andy Moughan. Cliffe FC began to dominate the midfield as South Cave’s only way of playing was long-balls and it meant that when Cliffe FC got down and played the ball in the centre of midfield, Cliffe FC, centre midfielders, John Rodrigues and Scott Birch, had the visitors unable to win the ball. Cliffe FC were soon 3-nil up with a nice long ball from Dave Evans was finished off by Dave Heron by nicely nestling the ball in the bottom corner with his shot. For the third game in a row the opposition added to the Cliffe FC tally by scoring an own goal for 4-0, when a ball across the six yard box was missed by two Cave players and at the third attempt was put into the net inadvertently by a defender. South Cave best chance came from a positioning error by M. Birch and let the visitors in but M. Birch recovered by clearing off the line. Rob Wood who came on earlier for Walker, played well winning a few headers and Steve Hullah who had little time to make an impact, still managed to get into a scuffle with an opposition player. The game finished 4-nil to Cliffe FC.

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

With this win Cliffe FC go top of their league a point clear and remain undefeated.
This game was Cliffe FC’s most physical and South Cave did not like being beaten physically and ultimately losing both the game and top spot.
Next week Cliffe FC return to cup competition away from home in the East Riding County Cup Round 2 versus Nafferton Rec. Reserves and will look to take their now 5 game winning streak into it.

Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, K. Simpson, D. Evans (S.Hullah), A. Moughan, M. Birch, K. Taylor, J. Rodrigues, S. Birch, C. Walker (R.Wood), D. Heron, R. Eriksen.

Cliffe Scorers:
R. Eriksen, C. Walker, D. Heron, 1 Own Goal.

filed under: Match Reports by Malcolm Bryce
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