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Cleethorpes Town 2 Grantham Town 0

Cleethorpes Town 2 Grantham Town 0

David Simpson24 Jul 2021 - 15:46
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CONVINCING OWLS BUILDING MOMENTUM!

Clee played some of their best football of pre-season to ease to a 2-0 verdict over higher-ranked Grantham Town at the Myenergi Stadium. A typical Jon Oglesby strike and a late Harry Middleton penalty was enough to see off Carlton Palmer’s charges.

Dave Smith was still having his preparations somewhat disrupted by Covid isolation and injuries. However, the mood in the camp was confident ahead of the lunchtime kick-off.

The side lined-up as follows:

Goal: Tom Nicholson
Defence: Paul Walker, Jordon Cooke, Oli Donald, Loz McKay
Midfield: Harry Middleton, Liam Dickens, Alex Flett (c)
Forward: Josh Batty, Brody Robertson, Jon Oglesby

Subs: Brandon Buckley, Caine Winfarrah, Lennon Stead

The conditions were pretty much ideal at the start, with little breeze and pleasantly warm weather, in contrast to the hothouse against Grimsby Town.

It was to be the visiting Gingerbreads who were the first to threaten. Home stopper Tom Nicholson was twice required to pull off smart stops in the first 12 minutes.

Clee soon began to find their collective stride though and Batty was left to curse his luck. A swift team move found the striker, and his shot flicked the top of the bar.

The Owls continued to up the pace and Walker, who was excellent at right-back, accelerated through opposition challenges before fizzing a 20-yard drive just wide.

Despite now being in the ascendancy, stubborn defending from Grantham ensured that the teams headed for the dressing rooms locked at 0-0.

HT Cleethorpes Town 0 Grantham Town 0

Clee started the second period on the front foot, and the breakthrough arrived after 57 minutes. Jon Oglesby picked the ball up through the inside left channel and, in trademark fashion, after cutting in past his marker found the bottom corner.

The best of the mainly half-chances continued to go the way of the Owls. Buckley almost made the game safe but saw his snapshot rattle the underside of the bar, before being hooked away to safety by a defender.

Grantham then want on enjoy their best spell of the afternoon since the opening skirmishes. Nevertheless, the well-marshalled defence resisted comfortably enough to protect a clean sheet.

In the final play of the day, and deep into injury time, Harry Middleton wrapped up the victory by smashing in a penalty (pictured).

FT Cleethorpes Town 2 (Oglesby 57, Middleton pen 90+5) Grantham Town 0 Attendance: 158

A fine overall performance, probably the best of pre-season so far.

With two friendlies left to play (at Bottesford & Scarborough), things appear to be coming together nicely. Hopefully, most of our injuries will fully clear in the next fortnight ahead of the Melton FA Cup tie.

Thanks for your support during the home friendlies and look forward to seeing a few of you on the road in the next week!

UP THE OWLS!

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