Clipstone waste two-goal lead in home defeat to Eccleshill

The strong wind was bound to cause havoc, but Clipstone set out at a rare old pace, taking the game to Eccleshill from the kick-off.

It was only a minute into the game when the Cobras took the lead.

Rob Paling took a free kick wide on the left which bounced awkwardly in the Eccleshill area and, with no one wanting to take responsibility, Liam Pride came in from behind the last defender and somehow the ball beat the keeper at the far post.

Clipstone had several chances to add to the scoring, Steve Carty heading over at the far post and Kieran Watson ‘s dipping half volley bouncing just in front of Brendan Roslund in the Eccleshill goal, who had to dive at full stretch to keep the ball out for a corner.

On 37 minutes it was again a Rob Paling free kick that won another corner for Clipstone, with the keeper forced into tipping the ball over direct from that free kick.

Paling took the corner and used the wind to his advantage, the ball finding its way into the back of the goal without anyone getting a touch on it.

Just as it seemed Clipstone were going into the interval with a healthy cushion, Ed Eley pulled off a wonderful save only to see Ishmael Mills first on hand to bury the follow-up.

The second half saw a turn around of the conditions as well as the teams’ fortunes.

A minute into the half Eccleshill were level through an Adam McCabe strike, which left home keeper Eley little chance of saving.

Three minutes after that Eccleshill were awarded a free kick wide on the right 35 yards out from goal. Ryan Jones blasted the ball hard and low towards the the far post, which beat everyone including the keeper to put Eccleshill in front for the first time in the match.

There was some tough tackling from both sets of players with several receiving ‘soft’ yellow cards.

Brett Marshall did shake things up in the second half, bringing on Matt Austin, Pete Stubley and Rob Camm for Liam Pride (injured) Kieran Watson and Rob Paling respectively at various times.

Clipstone did work hard to level things up and had two really good shouts for penalties to no avail.

Right at the death, Eccleshill killed things off with a goal from Daniel Holliwaty, whose shot went through the legs of Eley, to complete the scoring.

CLIPSTONE: Eley, Armstrong, B. Shaw, J. Shaw, R. Austin, Carty, Pride (M. Austin 45), Edwards, Snowdon, Watson (Subley 57), Paling (Camm 87).