Clipstone make it four wins from four

A superb second half display by Clipstone was the difference last night as they made it four NCEL wins out of four with a 2-0 home victory over Bottesford Town.
FootballFootball
Football

Clipstone kicked off the first half and within one minute had the first scoring chance of the game. Some great work involving five players ended with a cross coming over from the deep right and finding Ryan Hindley, who managed to get a half volley away but just dragged it wide for a goal kick.

Bottesford went straight on the attack themselves and won a free kick after Ash Rawson was adjudged to have fouled Pembleton 22 yards out on the left. The ball was whipped in and the home defenders cleared with ease.

The ebb and flow of the game was going more the way of Bottesford as Clipstone were having to defend more and more, but they did so with some style as they restricted Bottesford to long range and set piece efforts, neither of which troubled the home goal.

On 21 minutes central defender Stu Hill tripped Pembleton on the right side of the pitch, again from 22 yards out. Terry Barwick curled one in with pace and quite amazingly everyone missed their attempted headers and the ball bounced out for a goal kick.

On 39 minutes Bottesford keeper Leigh Herrick bowled the ball out so he could receive attention for the physio with no other player was involved but after a couple of minutes he was okay to carry on.

The second half was a different affair to the first as Clipstone started to play their football and grew in confidence the more the game played out.

There was no surprise when the first goal went in or by who scored it. Ash Rawson, Ryan Hindley and Josh Gibson were all involved before the ball landed at the feet of Dan Wood, who held off two It was visible to see Bottesford getting tired as they were being run down by the ever battling Josh Gibson, who was leading the front line extremely well.

On 69 minutes it was Gibson who won the ball just inside the Bottesford half and the counter attack was on. With quick play the ball again found Dan Wood and with a crisp finish beat the keeper for the second time.

Wood had several chances to get his hat-trick including had a chase to the ball inside the area with visiting keeper Herrick.

It was a close run thing with both players touching the ball at the same time. Unfortunately for Wood the keeper got more of the ball and the danger was cleared.

Steve Carty found himself in a shooting position from 20 yards out on 74 minutes and would have scored except for another fine save from the Bottesford keeper.

The visitors thought it was time to change things around with a double substitution on 76 minutes. and within two minutes they started to make progress up the field, winning another free kick 22 yards out on the right.

Again the home defenders cleared and the ball went for a corner which home keeper Nick Siddons dealt with comfortably. In fact Siddons hardly put a foot wrong all game, ably helped from Brandon Shaw and Stu Hill in the centre of defence, and Tom Carnall and Callum Mawby.

Matt Austin came on for Ryan Hindley with 10 minutes to go and made his presence felt from the off. He could have won a penalty on 85 minutes when he was quite clearly being held back when attempting a header on goal, unfortunately for him everyone but the referee saw it.

Dan Wood had his last chance of a hat-trick on 88 minutes from a Steve Carty free kick on the far left. Wood got a clean head to the ball and once again Bottesford keeper Herrick got down well to save.

Next up for the unbeaten Cobras is the FA Vase on Sunday away at Grimsby Borough (3pm).

Related topics: