Boss Cotton admits Clipstone badly need first win of season

Clipstone threw away a 2-1 half-time lead to go down 4-2 at home to Pickering Town and now prop up the Toolstation Northern Counties East League’s Premier Division table.

“We need to get a result,” said Cotton. “Whether that is by playing really well, grinding it out or getting a bit of luck. I honestly believe that once we get that result, we will be able to move on.”

Cotton was encouraged by the way his team played in the first half and feels they have improved over the last threee matches. “We looked lively, had a good shape and created chances,” he said. “We were positive at half-time, but we conceded an early goal in the second half, which is never a good thing to do. It came from a corner too, and we should defend them better at this level.

“Pickering’s third goal came from the only decision the referee got wrong all game, and after that, the lads’ heads went down. We lost our shape, and our decision-making became worse. We finished the game poorly, and we must start playing for 90 minutes.”

The match opened with Pickering striker Ryan Blott scoring his first goal of a hat-trick in the third minute. But an own goal by Eddie Birch brought Clipstone level four minutes later before Jermaine Jatau chipped them in front on 12.

However, they were lucky to survive a missed Pickering penalty, saved on 41 by Liam Kerry, and then Jatau had to come off with a hamstring injury before a second period to forget.