For the first 10 mins both sides struggled to keep possession and put a decent move together. It was very obvious that Clifton were far removed from the side that beat Arnold 10-1 at the tail end of last season.
It was no surprise when the first goal came from a mistake. On 15 mins, what should have been a routine clearance by Clifton’s Tobias was blocked and the rebound gifted the ball to Bos, who from inside the box slotted the ball past the advancing Kirk in the Clifton goal. (1-0).
Clifton should have replied immediately but Blewitt shot wide from 18yds with the goal beckoning. Both sides generated half chances but shots were put wide and crosses failed to meet their targets. In the 33rd min Clifton broke and with men spare in the centre only a timely tackle by Hallam saved the day. Arnold’s defence which to this point had looked sound and well organised let Clifton back into the game two minutes later. On the left a player was allowed to get to the Arnold bye line and from inside the box, crossed to an unmarked Williams, who volleyed the ball into the roof on the net (1-1). Buoyed by the goal Clifton upped their tempo. Arnold’s Millward was booked on 39mins for descent (kicking the ball away) and he was followed into the book by Drackett who’s late challenge on Clifton’s Price gave the referee no choice.

With the second half only 3 mins old Clifton’s, Way was booked for dissent, petulantly throwing the ball away. Do players never learn? After a driving run, Price had a chance well saved by Ball in the Arnold goal. On 55 mins Drackett’s late challenge on Clifton’s Williams resulted in a melee of players surrounding the referee and Clifton’s Tobias was booked for dissent. Remarkably Drackett stayed on the field but was substituted almost immediately. Fully 5 mins elapsed before play recommenced and almost immediately Way was booked for a blatant dive and as a result he was dismissed. When football resumed Arnold were being pressed into their own half and on 64 mins a low driven shot from Maddison beat the Ball to his left to give Clifton the lead (1-2).
Minutes later a hoofed clearance saw the bouncing ball nearly beat the back pedalling Arnold keeper. Arnold were struggling to mount a response and it was 78mins before a mistake by Tobias, gave Arnold in the form of Mushambi, a chance but Tobias recovered well with a face saving tackle. Arnold equalised in fortunate fashion on 82 mins. A cross from the right was deflected and bounced over the head of Kirk in Clifton’s goal. Mushambi forced the ball in on the goal line (2-2).
With Clifton reduced to 9 men when injury forced a player off with no substitute available, Arnold still couldn’t force the issue. In normal time Clifton had a final chance to snatch the game when with a minute to go substitute Russell shot over. The referee added very little injury time despite the stoppages and the game petered out to a draw.
The result was the one Arnold could ill afford especially with a succession of away games to come. Over the last few games the defence has improved immeasurably from the disorganised shambles of the early season and the team now competes from the whole 90 minutes. What is lacking is a real goal threat and this is the conundrum the management must address if survival is to be achieved. Geoff Smith

ARNOLD TOWN:
1. M Ball
2. C Thurgood
3. K Hallam ©
4. J Knight
5. J Leeming
6. K Mushambi
7. K Drackett
8. D Bird
9. G Bos
10. C Millward
11. G Karim

Subs:
A Sulaiman
T Mushambi
H Karle
S Freeman
M Looker

CLIFTON AW:
1. J Kirk
2. J Reed
3. J Price
4. R Tobias
5. J Richardson
6. M Williams
7. C Meakin
8. T Maddison
9. A Large
10. A Way
11. A Blewitt

Subs:
J Russell
M Ball
N Kennerdale
L Griggs

OFFICIALS:
Naji Naji
Tristan Churcher
Colin Brooks

Att 41

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