Cleethorpes Town 3 Frickley Athletic 0

Recap

Cleethorpes Town 3 Frickley 0

It was a game of two halves at Clee. We defended like men possessed in the first half but the second was a tale of missed penalty decisions and clinical Cleethorpes finishing.

In the starting lineup, Big Dev came in for the suspended Mikey Williams, and on the bench, Tyreece Robinson returned after injury. Otherwise, it was as you were.

Keeper Aiden Smith was in the thick of it from the off, making 3 or 4 crucial saves in the first quarter of an hour, including a stunning point blank save that had goal written all over it.

The Blues came more into the game with a chance for Josh Scott, set up by Rod Orlando Young, and a free kick, taken by ROY himself, both comfortably caught by ex-Blue and current Clee keeper, Tom Jackson.

The Boys in Blue continued to scrap their way to half time on level terms by means of a combination of dogged defending and luck. HT 0-0.

The luck ran out after the break. First when TJ went over the top of Big Dev just after the restart. It was a certain penalty but nothing was given. Then in the 51st minute Cleethorpes took the lead, hitting the post before Smithy saved the shot that resulted from the rebound, but he could only parry the ball to another ex-Blue, Jack McMenemy, who netted from 5 yards out.

The Azzurri had another good penalty shout when sub Nathan Perks was hauled to the ground at a set piece but again nothing doing, much to Perksy’s disgust. And Freddie Pitts kept the deficit at one goal with a decent goal line clearance.

Nevertheless, Clee looked to have applied the killer blow on 68 minutes, heading in from a corner.

It was virtually confirmed 5 minutes later as The Blues were reduced to ten men. A Clee defender handled in the box. No penalty awarded. Perksy told the ref what he thought and was shown a straight red for his troubles. Decent bloke that he is, he apologised afterwards, but we all felt his understandable frustration.

Clee rubbed salt into the wounds with a third in time added on. The initial run looked suspiciously offside but to no avail as their striker slotted past Smith to close out proceedings. FT 3-0.

Well, this one was a free hit as no-one would have expected us to get much from a Cleethorpes side who are flying. We duly swung but unfortunately missed, Clee’s win securing them a playoff spot. Our season won’t be defined by losing to teams at the top end like Cleethorpes.

WEBMASTER MOTM – no-one had a bad day, we lacked nothing in effort or endeavour. It was simply that Clee are a rather good side, blunting our attacks and putting our defence under constant pressure. At the back, Arun Jones and Joe West were everywhere whilst Nath Whitehead and Pittsy would’ve headed away bricks. Scotty, Jimmy Matthews, Big Dev and Evs were industrious and combative in midfield. And up top, ROY was lively and Wellsy ran his blood to water as usual. However, I’m giving the Glitterball to Aiden Smith. His shot stopping was par excellence, without which we’d have been finished off long before we were. Bravo bro!

TWITTER POLL – the twittersphere agreed, Smithy took it ahead of Kegan, Jonesy and Westy. Thanks to all who voted.

445 through the gate with a good number from SESKU partaking of the sea air. Thank you for supporting the lads, it’s much appreciated.

No interviews this week as the media team had more injuries than the playing staff. We’ll get them in the treatment room and rectify that next week.

Talking of next week, it’s the big one! We play Lincoln United in an absolute six-pointer at The Wezzie on Saturday. You don’t want to miss this one. See you all there.