Cleethorpes Town hoping to seize big opportunity

BOSS Andy Liddle says his free-scoring Cleethorpes Town face a must-win game when they entertain Yorkshire Amateur in the Northern Counties East League tomorrow.

Having picked up four points from their last two fixtures – including an impressive midweek draw at home to Albion Sports – Clee remain very much in the division one promotion hunt.

Liddle and his men are just four points short of second-placed Knaresborough Town, and they have the luxury of two games in hand.

Despite these extra chances, however, the Town manager insists tomorrow's Bradley Community Stadium clash will be paramount to their fortunes this season.

Liddle, pictured, said: "It is a massive game. On the back of the last two games we really need to get three more points in the bag and, hopefully, close the gap up top.

"We are an attacking team at home. We have changed the system slightly for away games, but we work hard and create a lot of chances with the system we play.

"We have taken four points in the last week and we need to build on that. We have to win this game, really, and I will be very happy if we can get the result.

"Importantly we are still in the mix. We know that everyone is beatable and, as tough as this game is going to be, I am very confident we can get the victory."

The encounter with Yorkshire Amateur comes just three days after Clee's draw with Albion Sports – a team who Liddle credits as 'the best we have played this year'.

The match between Town and Albion was played at a high tempo from the beginning as both teams worked hard to find an early opening.

Lee Stephenson eventually broke the deadlock for Clee just before half-time, but the home side were denied all three points when Karl Hall levelled for the visitors after 59 minutes.

The second-half was as frantic as the first and, but for some resolute defending, either side could have notched more goals.

Despite conceding the lead, Liddle was full of praise for his players.

He said: "We created enough chances to win the game, but sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't – but that is football."

"I was really happy with the performance because they are a top side. It shows just how much we have improved. They beat us 4-0 in October and that was my biggest defeat as manager.

While there were many positives, the midweek encounter was marred by an injury to striker Marc Cooper, who is unlikely to be in the squad tomorrow.

Other than that, Cleethorpes have a clean bill of health as they look to register their sixth victory since the turn of the year.

MATCH REPORT

NORTHERN Counties East League promotion hopefuls Cleethorpes Town and Albion Sports proved to be an even match during their 1-1 draw at Bradley Community Stadium.

The teams, who went into the contest in fifth and fourth respectively, played out a pulsating game in front of a 111-strong crowd.

It was a high-tempo affair from the kick-off as both sides looked to find an opening in the early stages – the first chance falling to the visitors with a powerful shot fired narrowly over.

Cleethorpes were defending well, and were being well-supported Scott Drury in the home goal who commanded his area with ease.

They were forced into an early change when Marc Cooper was injured following a collision with the Albion goalkeeper.

His replacement, veteran Lee Stephenson, was in the mood and broke the deadlock for Town just before half-time – that came from a corner.

The second-half began with Drury called straight into action. The Cleethorpes number one saved low before an element of fortune allowed Karl Hall to level for the visitors.

A failed clearance fell into the path of Hall, who fired home off the upright past the unsighted Drury.

The goal inspired Albion, and ultimately forced manager Andy Liddle to make a change with Craig Mitchell being replaced by Jonathan Oglesby.

It was a substitution that almost had instant success. Having been played in by Alex Flett, Oglesby had a good chance to regain the host's lead but, instead, struck straight at the Albion 'keeper.

It was an end-to-end fixture with both defences working hard, allowing for an uncertain final few minutes.

Another surging run from Flett released Luke Mascall, who cut inside the penalty box but was unable to make the most of his golden opportunity.

Albion, meanwhile, produced a deep cross to the far post – and that was met by the head of Hall, who produced to put his chance over the bar.

Cleethorpes had a late penalty shout denied before the referee called time on what had been a closely-fought contest.

After the match, boss Liddle said: "I was really happy with the performance. Albion are a top side and it shows how far we have improved.

"They beat us 4-0 in October, which was my biggest defeat as Cleethorpes manager. Credit to my players, they were excellent."