Young Clipstone side pipped in seven-goal shoot-out with Dunkirk

Clipstone were left ruing missed chances in an incredible game at the Lido Ground as Dunkirk took all three points in a 4-3 loss.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2020, 16:22 BST
Clipstone celebrate their third goal.Clipstone celebrate their third goal.
Clipstone celebrate their third goal.

Cobras manager Dave Hoole said: “I’m gutted for the lads, the players deserved something from the game.

“From a management point of view we can take lots of positives away from the game. To create the chances like we did, against a side like Dunkirk was impressive.

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“We’ve been riddled with injuries of late and we knew what we were in for today. Dunkirk are a physical team and they came intending to bully us. I’m pleased our lads didn’t react and pushed them all the way.

Action from Clipstone's narrow defeat.Action from Clipstone's narrow defeat.
Action from Clipstone's narrow defeat.

Declan Sorrell gave a Cobras side with an average age of 21 the perfect start after 14 minutes before Jack Warwick doubled their advantage three minutes later.

Mason Frizell pulled one back before the half hour, but that didn’t deter the Cobras and Jason Foster gave the Cobras the two goal advantage again with a stunning free-kick finding the bottom corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Dunkirk came with a mentality that they were going to bully and dominate Clipstone and they became frustrated to be 3-1 down.

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Referee Daniel McDonald was subject to lots of complaints from the away side and eventually put striker Shannon-Lewis to the sin-bin for 10 minutes for dissent just before the break.

Jack Warwick nets the second goal.Jack Warwick nets the second goal.
Jack Warwick nets the second goal.

The visitors made it 3-2 through Lewis Wilcox just before the hour, giving the game a whole momentum swing.

Clipstone tried to continue with their ethos of playing out from the back and missed on another day possibly would have.

However, Lady Luck was very much on the Dunkirk side and a quickfire double left the Cobras heartbroken in the 83rd minute.

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Clipstone were behind for the first time but they fought on and just before added time the impressive Josh Pickering was tripped and referee, McDonald awarded the penalty.

You could cut the atmosphere with a knife and the whole ground was in suspense as Jack Warwick confidently stood up and smashed the ball off the crossbar.

Clipstone still pushed for an equaliser and 16-year-old Jack Lowe set up Ethan Knowles, but his shot was blocked.

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