Match Report for Sat 21^st Feb 2009

Cleevillians 2 Leominster 1

Despite some good passages of play by the opposition, Cleevillians deserved their win and to remain top of the Hereford & Gloucester League 1 with only 5 games to go before the end of the season. Cleevillians were continually frustrated by both, the number and quality of saves made by the Leominster keeper as well as the number of shots placed wide of the goal. Although both Cleevillians goals were scored by Stuart Skinner from short corners, a well organised Leominster defence managed to keep out a further 14 short corners.

Cleevillians started the game strongly, with Vince Clark flicking the ball wide of the right hand post following an initial shot by Martin Halls after only 2 minutes. Six minutes into the match, Stuart Skinner put Cleevillians into the lead with a low shot into the middle of the goal from a short corner. Following Leominster's equaliser on 15 minutes, Cleevillians piled on the pressure, with Tom North hitting the post and both Sean Flanagan and Vince Clark having goal bound shots saved by the opposition’s keeper.

At the start of the second half, it was Leominster who created the first significant chance which was well saved by Chris Smallwood. Having survived this early scare, Cleevillians regained the lead when Stuart Skinners scored his second goal of the game, again from short corner. Thereafter chances were few and far between, with Vince Clark having the best of them, only to find his low shot saved at the foot of the post. Cleevillians then had to survive strong pressure by Leominster in the last 10 minutes, although their only shot at goal in the last minute was from a short corner which was saved by Chris Smallwood.