The Colls returned home after back to back away wins, in the league and FA Cup respectively. Whilst Cleethorpes were visiting the Colls on the back of a point from their opening two league games.
Our first home game under the lights, but in the build up to kick off the conditions were perfect for a good game of football. Cleethorpes got off to the perfect start, they broke down the left hand side and cut back to Alex Flett who fired home from the edge of the box with a great strike.
It should have been two as an almost identical attack saw Flett find his strike partner, who on the run couldn’t guide the ball on target. Cleethorpes continued to put the pressure on and another shot from the edge was saved by Musselwhite, the rebound was met but they couldnt keep it on target.
The Colls began to get into the game after getting off to a slow start. Smart play down the left between Dunn and Gordon. The latter cut back to Redford but he couldn’t keep his shot down. Moments later a goalmouth scramble went off in the Cleethorpes box, but a Ponte man couldn’t poke home from close range.
With eighteen minutes on the clock we were level, Jack Vann retrieved the ball in midfield and quickly found Gavin Rothery. He had the composure to find Eli Hey, who fired home from close range. This seemed to raise the Colls spirits.
Mikey Dunn was next to have a shot on target as he brought the ball under and got his shot off. Vaughan Redford and Jack Lazenby then tested the keeper but without too much of scare. At half time the score was 1-1 and this was perhaps a fair scoreline.
Ponte came out firing in the second half. Vaughan Redford received the ball out wide, he turned his man and curled a shot towards the far post. The keeper somehow managed to scramble across to tip it onto the bar.
Cleethorpes had their next chance, they broke down their left side and a smart cross found their front man six yards out but he headed high and over. The game began to get scrappy and a number of Colls players ended in the book.
As Ponte pushed forward, Cleethorpes sensed their chance. They played the ball forward down their left side, wide man Oglesby cut inside and his shot deflected in. This was a sucker punch after a period of sustained pressure.
Ponte tried to get back into the game, but they were unable to find the finishing touch. Even Ryan Musselwhite was thrown forward but to little avail.
A defeat for The Collieries was tough to take, but we are back in league action away at Dunston this Saturday.