Wasteful Clee see unbeaten run ended by gritty Hykeham

Cleethorpes Town’s extraordinary unbeaten league record came to an end at the hands of gritty Hykeham Town who left Stamford Club with a 1-0 victory, in a match sponsored by Jackson Builders Merchants.

Ricky Belding was sent off in the second half for Andy Liddle’s men who, despite dominating possession, spurned a huge number of opportunities throughout.

With six minutes left, Tom Cass waltzed through the Owls defence to give the visitors a classic smash-and-grab victory.

Boss Liddle made four alterations to the starting line-up which dispatched Skegness United 4-0 a week earlier. Luke Neul, Michael Steer, Renzie Lobendhan and Lewis Wilson replaced Phil Cawley, Daniel Barrett, Darren Hanslip and Matthew Coleman.

The home side dominated with the ball from the off but Hykeham had the first shot on target – left winger Michael Bland forcing goalkeeper Scott Drury into action.

Jonathan Oglesby was proving Cleethorpes’ main threat down the left hand side. Hykeham goalkeeper James Cooper twice had to deny the tricky winger from close range.

Belding, the four-goal hero for the Owls last week, could also have put his side ahead. Oglesby beat Morgan Clay before pulling the ball back for Belding, but his effort was well saved by Cooper.

Renzie Lobendhan, starting up front alongside Belding, could have had a four minute hat trick as the half neared its end.

First he glanced wide from a Luke Mascall cross before failing to get enough power on another header moments later.

His third opportunity was undoubtedly his best. Belding was set racing away down the left and picked out Lobendhan, who had checked his run, but he side footed the ball over the bar.

Belding again went close before the half ended while captain Richard Peck headed over after a defensive mix-up from Hykeham on 39 minutes.
Cleethorpes’ half was summed up when an Oglesby lob was parried onto the bar by the in-form Cooper.

Those frustrations carried on into the second period. Lobendhan flicked the ball on for the quiet Mascall but, from a tough angle, he cut across the ball and missed the target.

Oglesby and Belding continued their afternoon of substandard finishing with uninspiring efforts and the latter’s disappointment manifested itself with 20 minutes left.

Chasing a long ball forward, Belding kicked Aaron Starbuck’s ankles leaving the referee with no choice but to give last week’s hero his marching orders.

Despite losing a man, Cleethorpes were still dominating the game.
Amazingly, Oglesby struck the crossbar with a lob for the second time in the game after 77 minutes as the Owls continued to toil.

However with 84 minutes on the clock, Hykeham made an unexpected breakthrough. Central midfielder Cass powered through a gap in the Clee defence. Drury got a hand to his shot but not enough to prevent the ball from going into the back of the net.

The Owls had neither the time nor, now they were down to ten men, the capacity to mount a comeback similar to that which saw them snatch the points at Hykeham in December.

Hykeham survived the late Cleethorpes onslaught to end the 42-match unbeaten league run and throw the Sills & Betteridge Lincolnshire League title race back open again.

Cleethorpes will be hoping to bounce back with a victory at Swineshead Institute next week.