Emley Beaten by Owls

Cleethorpes Town overcame a nightmare journey to Emley following Motorway delays on the M180 as a result of an accident on the M18 that caused tailbacks resulting in the kick off being moved back to 20:05. Cleethorpes saw 3 changes with Walsh, Freeman and Hewitt all coming into the side to make their first starts of the season.

Cleethorpes Wary from their delayed Journey had to absorb some early pressure from the hosts at the Welfare ground with the Emley earning a series of corners and from one was headed over from inside the area by Anthony Haigh. It was not completely one way at the other end Ricky Belding saw a shot blocked from the edge of the area. Scott Drury in the Cleethorpes Goal was called into action where he save a long range effort from outside the area and from the resultant corner was soon in action again as the ball was saved as the ball fell in the area to Dean Wharram.
Cleethorpes were gradually coming into the game more as their hosts where unable to turn their possession into many clear goal scoring opportunities. Daniel Freeman then saw an effort go wide of Luke Herriott’s Goal, then Lawrence Hewitt shot over from inside the area as the ball fell to him in the area following a corner from Daniel Barrett, Cleethorpes were definitely in this game but had to be wary by pushing forward leaving to much space behind them for Emley to exploit. Cleethorpes Continued though to create chances as the first half entered the final 15 minutes.

A Tim Lowe Free kick had to be well saved by Harriot and from the corner Hewitt saw a shot blocked on the line, Emley could not clear their lines and the ball was played wide Richard Peck found himself as a winger and played in the a cross shot into the area where the ball evaded the advancing Belding and Stephenson. Emley at the other end hit the post with the rebound being gathered well by Drury. Steven Cooper saw an effort go wide and Belding ran at Sean Haselden at the heart of the Emley defence saw an early effort go just wide with Herriott on the back foot in the Emley Goal.

The second half started again with Emley on the attack and Emley soon went ahead as effort from Wharam went through a crowd from the edge of the area into the net past Drury. Strangley this inspired Cleethorpes who were the ones lifted by going a goal behind. A short corner saw the ball come into the box from Lowe and Peck headed just wide, Then when the ball was won back in midfield through Alex Flett and Stephenson the latter released Freeman to run at his defender Anthony Leech and from the edge of the area his low shot hit the back of the net as Herriott could not respond quick enough. The scores were level and Cleethorpes had no intention of sitting back and their intentions where clear when in the area Stephenson shot wide. Emley where struggling to cope as Cleethorpes continued to press the ball high up and this pressure was rewarded as a ball in the area saw Stephenson go past two challenges to score into the corner of the net to give Cleethorpes the lead.

With the belief running through the side Barrett saw a free kick saved but Herriott could not hold it but made amends as he saved well from rebound. Hewitt then saw an effort go over following a cross from Barrett. Then from nowhere the ball was picked by the corner flag and Stephenson took it infield to release a curling effort that sailed into the top corner past the helpless Herriott to delight of the travelling support that silenced the watching Emley public who where as shell shocked as the team on the field. Cleethorpes still looked to push forward when they could and Barrett saw a shot saved from outside the area. Emley were looking to get back into the game and saw a header from Ashley Flynn following a deep cross into the Cleethorpes area. Then in final few minutes a corner from Emley saw Drury make a superb reaction save but as the ball rebounded out Anthony Haigh drilled low into the corner of the net to reduce the arrears. Meanwhile Marc Cooper ran at the defence one on one but could only see his shot go over as he drove into the area.

The full time whistle was blown to provide Cleethorpes with best win of the campaign so far maybe they should get held up on the roads all the time?