First Team
Matches
Sun 26 Dec 2021  ·  Premier
Malvern Town
1
3
Bishops Cleeve FC
First Team
J Annear (23'), (37'), J Watts (58' Pen)
Mitres win top of table clash

Mitres win top of table clash

Matthew Jones26 Dec 2021 - 19:07
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Bishop's Cleeve extended their lead with a win over Malvern Town who were second at the start of Boxing Day

Both sides had selection problems going into the match with the hosts having some positive covid tests in the morning and Cleeve missing 'keeper Luke Merchant and defender Leroy Odiero with Linden Dovey only fit for the bench, with Will Turner and Will Taylor making only their second appearances of the season.

It was the hosts who had the first chance of the match with the every dangerous Harry Clark being put through down the left but his hot didn't trouble the returning Sam Jepson in the Cleeve goal.

Sam Blackie then had Cleeve's first chance as the ball fell to him on the edge of the area but his shot went well over the bar. Jordan Annear then saw his shot tipped onto the crossbar by Malvern 'keeper Keiron Blackburn before a sustained spell of Cleeve pressure.

Keiran Alder showed great tenacity to hold onto the ball in the Malvern area despite being strongly handled before a minute later he broke through into the box, only for a perfectly timed challenge by the defender saw the ball go for a corner.

Jack Watts then latched onto a long ball forward but his effort was blocked by Blackburn who held firm but it felt like it was only a matter of time until Cleeve broke the deadlock and so it proved.

Again a good piece of play on the right saw Alder get clear and from the byline he was able to pull his cross back to Annear at the near post who headed home to give the visitors the lead.

Watts nearly capitalised on some hesitant defending, battling to get on the end of a long ball but his shot ended up going wide before the hosts started having their own period of pressure.

First off it took a good Turner block to deny Clark but the Malvern winger wasn't to be denied a goal involvement as just after the half hour his cross was met by an unmarked David Reynolds who came flying in to power home a header in the centre of the goal to show tenacity that has seen Malvern have come back from losing positions so often recently.

However, Cleeve showed why they themselves have been in every match this season, even when on the back foot, when just two minutes later, Watts slid in Annear one on one with Blackburn and the Mitres forward made no mistake to restore the one goal lead.

Malvern nearly came back again on the stroke of half time with former Mitre Joe Bates seeing his effort blocked before Joe Bullock's follow up hit the crossbar which meant Cleeve went into half time 2-1 up.

The Mitres went in up at half time in the reverse fixture before ending up losing and new they would have to put in a performance for the whole ninety minutes this time to get something from the game and looked to control the match. This endeavor was helped when ten minutes into the second half Watts was fouled in the area to give the visitors a penalty. After a significant delay in which Alder was forced off with an injury from an earlier challenge, Watts stepped up to score his 25th goal of the season.

From then on Cleeve looked to be in control of the match, although they still needed to deal with some attacks down the right from Clark and Lewis Platt but in the end they sealed a deserved victory to go nine points clear at the top of the league.

Cleeve's next match is at home to Cribbs, at Evesham United's ground, on Monday 3rd January.

Match details

Match date

Sun 26 Dec 2021

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Premier

League position

1
Bishops Cleeve
4
Malvern Town
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