Clipstone v Bridlington match report

Toolstation Northern Counties East – Premier Division
Saturday 10 December 2016
At The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone
Clipstone FC (0) 1
Patterson 84
Bridlington Town (2) 5
Agnew 34 55 87, Jenkinson 36, McNamara 90
Attendance : 87
Cobras’ Man of the Match: George Milner
Report by Jim McIntosh (@Realalerunner)

Clipstone suffered their heaviest home defeat in over three years as high-flying Bridlington took full advantage of a series defensive errors by the hosts.

However the score line rather flattered the visitors and, after missing a first half penalty, the Cobras were still in the game until two late goals killed off their hopes of staging a revival.

Player unavailability meant that manager Billy Fox made four changes to the side that lost four days earlier to Rainworth after a penalty shootout in the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup. There were two new faces - Reece Treasure who was previously with Sheffield FC and 17-year old goalkeeper Reace Mills.

Third placed Bridlington, managed by ex-professional boxer Curtis Woodhouse, are in a good run of form and have won seven out of their last eight games.

The Cobras had an early chance when skipper Richard Patterson found Adam Shepherd in the area but the latter’s shot was straight at James Hitchcock in the Bridlington goal.

Hitchcock then had to race out of his area to head the ball clear and prevent Reece Treasure getting on the end of a long ball from Sam Forster that split the visitors defence.

A warning of Bridlington’s firepower came in the ninth minute when they broke quickly and Brett Agnew’s shot was just wide of the upright.

George Milner, who was returning after injury, looked very lively for the Cobras and his ability to dribble and take on opponents was evident throughout the match. One such run in the 23rd minute saw him beat two defenders but the resulting shot was straight at
Hitchcock who saved with his feet. The resulting corner was headed narrowly wide by Richard Haigh.

Bridlington then took control of the game with two goals in three minutes. The first came on 34 minutes when a cross from the right was drilled home by Agnew although the Cobras were upset that a foul on Joe Austin in the build up to the goal was missed by the referee. 0-1

The visitors struck again almost immediately when a corner played into the near post went through a crowd of players and into the goal with Chris Jenkinson getting the final touch. 0-2

As half time approached the Cobras had an ideal chance to reduce the arrears when they were awarded a penalty after Patterson played a ball to Milner who was brought down by Alex Knaggs as he went round the defender. However Andrew Fox’s penalty was well saved by Hitchcock diving low to his right.
Half Time 0-2

In the early parts of the second half Clipstone showed that they were not giving the game up as they continued to look for ways to open up the visitors defence.

They came close when an excellent corner by Forster to the back post was headed just wide by Treasure. But they were then their own worst enemies when a defensive mix up gifted Brett Agnew his second goal on 55 minutes. 0-3

Steve McDonnell, who has been out through injury for over four months and has been sorely missed by the Cobras, then replaced Treasure on the hour mark. McDonnell immediately had an impact as he combined well with Milner and was only denied by a great saving tackle by Bridlington’s Jack Walters.

There was another chance for Milner as he made another great run into the area only to see his shot blocked by Nicky McNamara who showed excellent commitment by sliding in to get his body in the way.

Cobras’ man of the match Milner then has another chance when his free kick from wide on the left deceived Hitchcock and came back off the post.

A long ball from Michael Trench then found McDonnell in the area but the forward couldn’t quite get up high enough to get his header on target.

Clipstone did eventually get the goal that their efforts deserved after 84 minutes when Fox header the ball into the path of Patterson who calmly placed his shot past Hitchcock. 1-3

However two late goals for Bridlington ensured there was no way back for the Cobras. Agnew completed his hat-trick after Clipstone lost possession cheaply in midfield and then static defending allowed McNamara to head home a corner in added time. The score line was very harsh on the home side but credit must go to Bridlington who were ruthless in front of goal throughout the game.

Full Time 1-5
Clipstone remain in 14th place in the league with 28 points from 22 games.
The Cobras’ next game is a ‘local derby’ when they meet AFC Mansfield at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium on Tuesday 13 December, 7.45pm.