SOUNDLY BEATEN: Chris Rawlinson saw his side defeated 3-0 on Monday. Photo by JAKE WHITELEY

Red-hot Cleethorpes Town cruise to victory over depleted Spalding United

Spalding United 0
Cleethorpes Town 3

Depleted Spalding United slipped to a third defeat on the spin as Cleethorpes Town cruised to a 3-0 victory on Bank Holiday Monday.

Early goals from Jonathan Oglesby (4) and Andrew Taylor (6) essentially ended the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field clash as a contest before it even got going, before Tim Lowe (50) rubber-stamped the points for The Owls.

Missing a host of first-teamers – including key men Paul Walker, Nathan Whitehead, Jordan Lemon and Lee Beeson – the Tulips rarely threatened in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South clash and were comfortably second-best.

On a red-hot, the game itself was in doubt because of an 11am fire at the Tulips Social Club. But it was Cleethorpes who caught fire from the off at the Sir Halley.

The Tulips barely had time to settle before finding themselves 2-0 down inside the opening six minutes.

First, Oglesby launched a towering back-post head back across Michael Duggan and into the far corner of the net.

Not done there, Cleethorpes doubled their lead moments later when Taylor raced through the middle a superbly lobbed an exposed Duggan.

The Tulips looked shell-shocked and took time to get settled before finally imposing themselves in the game.

Sadly, they were restricted to long-range efforts as both Jack Fixter and Adam Jackson blazed strikes over from fully 25-yards.

Cleethorpes always looked the more dangerous side and almost moved three goals to the good when Marc Cooper expertly brought down a Liam Davis cross, cut inside and fired just over.

Both sides were lucky to finish the half with 11 men, however, with Neal Spafford yellow carded for what looked like a professional foul on the edge of his own box and Alex Flett cautioned for a horrible late lunge on Jonny Lockie.

The second half started much like the first, with Cleethorpes finding the net once again.

This time is it was right back Tim Lowe who finished off a sweeping move at the back post with a back-post effort from close range.

It took until the 72nd minute for the Tulips to register their first shot on target, youngster Adam Millington working Liam Higton from the edge of the box.

Jamie McGhee forced a better save from the visiting keeper soon after with a cross-shot that needed helping over, but Cleethorpes had long since settled for their 3-0 win.

Tulips: Duggan, Fixter, Jackson, Varley, Humble, Spafford, Lockie (Higginson 62), Harris, Millington, King, Acar (McGhee 71). Not used: Neil, Har, Smith.

Attendance: 192.

Sponsors’ MOTM: Millington.

RESULTS

Evo-Stik NPL

First Division South: Basford United 1 Loughborough Dynamo 0; Bedworth United 2 Corby Town 0; Frickley Athletic 5 Chasetown 0; Gresley 1 Belper Town 2; Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Newcastle Town 3; Leek Town 2 Market Drayton Town 1; Lincoln United 1 Carlton Town 1; Romulus 2 Alvechurch 6; Sheffield FC 2 Stocksbridge Park Steels 2; Spalding United 0 Cleethorpes Town 3; Stamford 1 Peterborough Sports 1.

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