Cliffe FC played on both Tuesday evening and Saturday in two fixtures in the East Riding County League Division 5.
22nd April
Cliffe Football Club vs. Haltemprice Rangers – East Riding County League Div. 5
HT: 3-0
FT: 9-4 W
Cliffe FC faced Haltemprice away from home on Tuesday night (22nd April) and after scoring eight goals in their previous game Cliffe continued in the same form scoring no less than 9 goals versus Haltemprice.
Malcolm Bryce writes…
The goals for Cliffe began when Kirkham scored from inside of the box, the lead was doubled when a great run and cross from Taylor was volleyed home by Horner, Kirkham almost had his second but his shot hit the bar. The score read 3-0 at half-time after B.Summers finished off a chance.
Cliffe did not want to concede an early goal after the interval, but that’s precisely what they did, when mis-communication lead to Haltemprice getting a goal in the first minute of the second half. The home side had another goal and they looked to draw level. The introduction of Hogg at half-time, who grabbed a hat-trick Saturday, had a run on the home ‘keeper but was felled and a penalty was awarded, which Birch scored from the resulting spot kick, 4-2. Hogg had his first of the game with a lob over the ‘keeper for 5-2 Cliffe. The home side did get another but Hogg’s second followed a few minutes after with another lob, this time from about 30 yards out, the away lead restored back to three, 6-3. Cliffe got another from Crowther followed by Hogg’s second hat-trick in as many games was complete when the ‘keeper was unable to stop a shot from the right and the away side went 8-3 up. Kirkham did get his second from a header making it 9-3 Cliffe. The home side got another goal but it came from the boot of an away player when Moughan put the ball into his own goal. The score finished 9-4 to Cliffe FC.
Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, K. Simpson (M.Birch), N. Summers, D. Evans, A. Moughan, S. Birch, A. Kirkham, N. Horner (Hogg), K. Taylor, B. Summers, D. Crowther
Cliffe Scorers:
Hogg (3), Kirkham (2), Horner, B.Summers, S.Birch (P), Crowther
26th April
Cliffe Football Club vs. Brandesburton IV – East Riding County League Div. 5
HT: 1-2
FT: 7-2 W
Cliffe FC travelled to face Brandesburton IV. Cliffe earlier on in the season had beaten Brandesburton 7-1 in the cup and 6-1 in the reverse league fixture – Cliffe captain, Scott Birch, bagging a hat-trick in both of these games.
Malcolm Bryce writes…
This game’s first half, however, did not seem to look like a similar result would be the outcome when Brandesburton took an early lead. Cliffe didn’t seem to be able to get out of the blocks and the home side won a free-kick and, combined with a deflected Cliffe header, extended the home lead to 2-nil. Cliffe still continued to create little but did manage a goal from Byron Summers. The half time score was 2-1 to the home side.
If Cliffe are going to win the league they needed to win this game and after Cliffe manager’s, Keith Tiplady, team talk the away side instantly began to play football that got them to the summit of the league. Cliffe drew level with a Scott Birch free-kick and after Kev Taylor was fouled in the area, after one of his many penetrating runs down the right wing, Birch got his second, from the spot, putting Cliffe into the lead. Summers got his second soon after and then Tom Hogg grabbed a goal to put Cliffe into a 5-2 lead. Chris Walker’s shot went in off the inside of the post for 6-2. Hogg was fouled and a second penalty for the away side was awarded. Birch stepped up again, for his hat-trick, but the ‘keeper denied him. Cliffe got a seventh and Birch got his third scoring inside the area in the last few minutes.
With his hat-trick Scott Birch has been able to score a “hat-trick of hat-tricks” against Brandesburton IV scoring a hat-trick in each of the three games Cliffe have played them this season.
Cliffe Team:
A. Harris, K. Simpson, M. Birch, D. Evans, A. Moughan, S. Birch, A. Kirkham (Fisher), K. Taylor, D. Heron (Walker), B. Summers (Horner), T. Hogg
Cliffe Scorers:
S. Birch (3), B. Summers (2), T. Hogg, C. Walker