A happy birthday for Clipstone boss

Marshall will have been much happier with this display in a game made harder by some refereeing decisions that angered the Cobras.

Within one minute of the start, the official made sure everyone knew this was his game with a string of controversial decisions.

From one, he gave an indirect free kick to Louth right on the edge of the area for dangerous play, the Louth attacker diving head first as Luke Weaver attempted a clearance. Thankfully it came to nothing as the Clipstone defence did their job well.

Luke Weaver certainly did not look out of place in the Clipstone defence, the 18-year-old partnering Rob Austin at centre back for the first time.

It was his driven clearance on 10 minutes which put through Kieran Watson into a one-on-one with Louth keeper Ben Smith, but Smith got his foot to the ball first and it went out for a throw in.

Rob Paling took it and found Carl Snowden on the right edge of the area, and he fed through Jason Edwards, whose curling effort was sailing towards the corner of goal, only for Smith to redeem himself with a wonderful save.

On 36 minutes Rob McSpadden was adjudged to have handled the ball 25 yards out on the far right.

This gave Steve Carty the chance to whip in a terrific ball which missed everyone, including the keeper, and found the back of the net to put Clipstone deservedly ahead.

They could have doubled their lead just five minutes later, Rob Paling on the end of a great team move involving six players, again Smith in the Louth goal denying Clipstone.

Clipstone were showing the determination that was lacking on Wednesday nights 2-2 draw at bottom side Appleby Froddingham and on 62 minutes Nathan Millington ran onto a clearance from Rob Austin on the left wing.

He controlled well and drove a low cross to the near post, allowing Ian Hillier to poke the ball home from two yards out, beating the keeper to the ball.

However, just three minutes later controversy ensued as Carl Snowden receiving a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident.

From that point onwards the referee seeemed to be brandishing yellow cards for fun, even though there didn’t seem to be a bad challenge in the entire game.

On 78 minutes Ed Eley did extremely well to deny Joe Gale a goal when the ball was driven through a crowded area, saving with his feet and the ball eventually going out for a corner.

The ball was swung back into the crowded area, only half cleared and Louth substitute Ella hit the back of the net, with Jordan Walden stood behind the goal line and interfering with play But the goal stood, leaving the Clipstone team furious.

However, all ended well for Clipstone as in the 88th minute Steve Carty picked up the ball on the halfway line.

He ran towards the right corner flag, beating three challenges on the way, cut inside and laid the ball off to Gary Armstrong to smash the Cobras back into a two goal lead and seal the points.

CLIPSTONE: Eley, Paling, Jackson, Weaver, Austin, Carty, Hillier (Armstrong), Edwards, Snowden, Watson, Millington. Subs not used: Wisdom, Allan.