Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Nostell Miners Welfare 0-3 Cleethorpes Town
- Brody Robertson gave promotion-chasing Cleethorpes Town a first half lead.
- Nostell worked their socks off to try and score an equaliser, but two late goals put the match beyond them.
- After Armthorpe Welfare beat Pontefract Collieries, Nostell are two points above the relegation.
Liam Radford hit the post during Nostell’s 3-0 defeat to Cleethorpes
Interim manager Kev Allsop wanted a “dogged determined display”. He got that. He said his Nostell side “had pace to burn which will threaten teams”. That proved to be the case again. Allsop, though, admitted his side were struggling with the “end product”. That was the only difference between the strugglers and promotion-chasing Cleethorpes.
Allsop, in charge for the time being after the exit of Paul Lines, has put himself firmly in the driving seat to stay in charge for the rest of the season. Although the result didn’t go their way, Allsop got it tactically right. Nostell now have eleven games to save themselves from relegation and based on the showings against Garforth Town and now Cleethorpes, they have a good chance of finding safe ground, as along an “end product” is found.
Allsop delivered on his promise of going to attack their visitors as young Reece Farnhill nearly carved Cleethorpes’ back four open inside the first 60 seconds. His effort did not stray too far away from Miles Fenty’s goal. Some Cleethorpes fans must have been having feelings of possible deja-vu after Nostell’s shock opening day victory at their place in August.
Effectively one mistake cost Nostell. Confusion between goalkeeper Ed Hall and his defenders meant a long punt downfield from Cleethorpes was not dealt with. Nostell’s back-line looked at each other, but before anyone reacted, Robertson had nipped in and scored.
Nostell’s response was good. New striker Liam Radford hit the post and the home side also had a goal chalked off because of an offside.
More of the same followed in the second half, but the “end product” was just not there, despite several moments where they got in good positions. For a long period, Hall had little to do until Cleethorpes, after soaking up the pressure, struck the killer blows in the last ten minutes.
Danger-man Marc Cooper, given a hard night by defender Franck Zalo, threaded the pass for substitute Danny Trott to breach the Nostell defence for the first time in the second half. He teased his marker before driving a low effort beyond Hall.
Cleethorpes then added the gloss when Louis Grant scored after Hall initially saved Jon Oglesby’s long range attempt. A harsh score-line in the end for Nostell, but quite a few positives to take.
Nostell Miners Welfare interim manager Kev Allsop:
Nostell Miners Welfare: Hall, Gordon, Allsop, Davis, Zalo, Beaston, Farnhill, Poole (Judson 71), Radford, Morton, Mhlolo (Craig 81). Subs unused: Waldron, Hoyle, Bennett.
Cleethorpes Town: Fenty, Lowe, Heward (D Grant 86), Bloomer, Wressell, Richardson (Trott 60), Mascall, Dickens, Cooper, Robertson (L Grant 70), Oglesby.
Referee: Mark Powell
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 86
Man of the match: Franck Zalo (Nostell Miners Welfare)