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HT: 0-2
FT: 1-2 L
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After Thursday evening’s Semi-Final loss still fresh in their minds, Cliffe FC travelled to face another Hedon side in the shape of 2nd placed Hedon Rangers Reserves. Cliffe sat top of the table a point clear going into the game but came away two points behind Hedon after a 2-1 loss.
Malcolm Bryce writes…
Cliffe began the game in a 4-1-4-1 formation looking to catch Hedon on the break after the home side inevitably would attack. The Cliffe players on the field did not need reminding the vital importance of this game but when Hedon went 1-0 up you wouldn’t think so because as soon as it was 1-0, Hedon soon had a second goal and Cliffe had it all to do and really had to attach some urgency to their play. With rally calls within the Cliffe ranks the away side switched to 4-4-2 before half-time.
With the seemingly more often than not during this half of the season, Cliffe lacked fight and a passion to go out and win the game. The second half would see Cliffe try and change this and many of the players stepped up and started to put all their effort in. Tom Hogg and Baz Summers defended from the front and when Hogg crossed for Summers only for the ‘keeper to save the shot, Cliffe looked brighter. With the introduction of Ben Rawson, Cliffe switched to 4-3-3. Andy Addison and Tom Hogg continued to work their socks off for the cause. Rawson had a gilt-edge chance to score only for the ‘keeper to save, Hogg also had a chance before Cliffe finally scored from a corner when David Evans headed the ball on for Rawson to score. With a quarter of the game left Cliffe had to go for it and now a draw would be as important as a win in the title race. The away side’s second goal didn’t come and Hedon win the 3 points thus leapfrogging Cliffe into 1st position two points clear.
This game was a tale of two halves and a tale of two different Cliffe sides. The first half saw a spirit-less Cliffe side who only respond when they were 2 goals down and the second half saw a Cliffe side dominate Hedon having them pinned back for the whole half and could of won the game with their chances. Fact of the matter is that this passion-less theme may see Cliffe FC’s whole season unravel. Cliffe can still win the title but is it now out of their hands and they and I have to hope Hedon drop points somewhere.
Cliffe FC’s next fixture is at home to Total Signs Solutions who sit in third position, a point behind Cliffe.
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9th May 2009, 2pm – Cliffe FC vs. Total Sign Solutions @ Cliffe Park, Oxen Lane, Cliffe
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- Cliffe FC vs. LNER Builders (A) 6th March 2010
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