HT: 0-2
FT: 2-3 L
Cliffe Reserves once again travelled away to play a cup tie against a team from a higher division, but came away with their heads held high after a narrow defeat.
Gary Wilson writes…
The game started evenly with both teams cancelling each other out in midfield, meaning only a handful of half-chances were created for either side.
Mid-way through the first half Cliffe were dealt a double blow as they lost both Baz Summers & Joe White to injuries, forcing manager Dan Harper into a formation re-shuffle.
Five minutes before half time the deadlock was broken when Poppleton were awarded a penalty for a foul by Nathan Summers.
The lead was then doubled on the stroke of half time when Poppleton broke down the right and crossed, allowing an attacking midfielder to smash the ball into the top corner.
The second half started much the same as the first, with very few chances for either team. However, it was once again Poppleton who broke the deadlock when a shot from the edge of the box deflected off Matt Birch, wrongfooting the Cliffe ‘keeper.
Now at 3-0 down, Cliffe began to show some real fighting spirit, and in the last 10 minutes of the game really took it to the hosts. Good attacking play from Lambert, Horner and substitute Hallam paid off as Milner was put through and he rounded the keeper to score.
Cliffe then scored again as Hallam ran on to an excellent through ball from Horner, his shot only half saved by the home keeper as Parish followed up to bundle it home.
Poppleton were now feeling the heat, and the last 5 minutes saw Cliffe desperately trying to find the goal to send the game into extra time, but eventually time ran out on them.
A good performance against a side in a higher division can only mean that confidence must be high when the league campaign resumes next week.
Wilson (6), Brown (6), M.Birch ( 8 ), Parish (7), N.Summers (6), Milner (7), Ellwood (6), Jevons (7), White (6), Horner (7), B Summers (6). Subs: Lambert (7), Hebson (6), Hallam (7).
recent posts:
- Cliffe FC vs. Selby Olympia (H) 6th February 2010
- Cliffe FC 2ndXI vs. York Civil Service Reserves (H) 6th February 2010
- Cliffe FC vs. York Civil Service (A) 30th January 2010
