HT: 5-1
FT: 9-1 W
Cliffe FC were on the road this week to face Shiptonthorpe. Cliffe won the reverse fixture 8-0 earlier this season.
Malcolm Bryce writes…
Cliffe within the first 45 seconds scored, Danny Fisher scoring from two yards after a failed clearance from the first corner of the game. It was two when a tame shot was misjudged by the home ‘keeper and Scott Birch got his 13th of the season and made it 2-nil to the away side. Cliffe’s tarnished clean-sheet was of their own doing with lacklustre and casual play and a long ball over the top, combined with bad communication in the Cliffe defence, lead to a penalty been given to Shiptonthorpe. The spot-kick was scored for 2-1. Cliffe restored the two goal advantage when Tom Hogg scored. It was then 4-1 when Craig Allen grabbed his first Cliffe goal on his full début with a nice individual effort. Hogg doubled his tally and put Cliffe into a 5-1 lead when a corner, headed by Andy Moughan, was buried by Hogg. Shiptonthorpe were relieved when half-time arrived.
The second half continued with Cliffe domination, Dave Heron grabbed a brace of goal, the second of which was a nicely lofted shot into the roof of the net, making the score now 7-1. Shiptonthorpe’s attacking threat was non-existant and when handed a goal-scoring chance on a plate still managed to squander it. Rune Eriksen managed to squeeze a shot into the net for 8-1 Cliffe. Heron’s hat-trick goal continued to elude him with the chances he had but Chris Walker then joined S.Birch on 13 goals and made the score 9-1 in the process. Cliffe forward may have been forgiven for wasting some of the chances they had to make take their score into double figures, but goal difference is as ever important to Cliffe considering what scores rival teams have achieved recently. The final whistle blew and Cliffe FC ran out 9-1 winners.
The fact that Cliffe have 5 games in hand over the top of the division mean that they remain seventh, but with that 5 game they are only 10 points adrift. Cliffe FC now will look towards next Saturday’s season-defining Semi-Final fixture against Eastrington in the Harold Robinson Cup. This tie is to be played Holme Rovers’ ground. Many Thanks goes to Cliffe FC sponsors The Bread Bin and Pure-Silk.
Cliffe Team:
N. Horner, M. Birch, A. Moughan, D. Evans, S. Hullah (Simpson), D. Fisher, S. Birch, C. Allen (Walker), K. Taylor, D. Heron, T. Hogg (Eriksen)
Cliffe Scorers:
T. Hogg(2), D. Heron(2), D. Fisher, S. Birch, C. Allen, R. Eriksen, C. Walker
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