Decided it was time to pay our good friend Brett Marshall a visit, and have a look at the improvements he has instigated at the Lido.
The ground looks as good as it has ever done - the green carpet outside of the changing rooms has been dumped, and the whole area laid with tarmac.
The new stand behind the goal is now complete, and a new corporate facility/office, "The Barry Clarke Suite", has been added next to the stand. The stand down the side of the pitch has been renovated and on the whole I have to say, very impressive!
The new stand behind the goal is now complete, and a new corporate facility/office, "The Barry Clarke Suite", has been added next to the stand. The stand down the side of the pitch has been renovated and on the whole I have to say, very impressive!
A few pics of the ground - but as a cameraman I'm next to useless - but now that Kev's finished concreting his drive, hopefully he'll soon be joining me "on the road" again!
Clipstone had a few players missing for this game - holidays always take a toll in August so it can be difficult at times to field the same eleven two games on the spin.
Clipstone line-up: Jonny Parker, Gary Armstrong, Brandon Shaw, Rob Austin (c), Matthew Plant, Liam Pride, Rob Paling, Chris Baugh, Dave Bramwell, Pete Stubley, Nathan Millington. Subs: Keir Webster, Jamie Tryner, Michael Taylor.
I know absolutely nothing about the Appleby team, just that before today's game they had played 3 and lost three, scoring 8 and conceding 12. Should have been a breeze for the Cobras? Well after they opened their account in just the 4th minute of play, it looked like it.
Rob Paling made a solid run through the Frodingham midfield and played the ball out to Dave Bramwell, who in turn fired it into the area to where PETE STUBLEY was waiting to fire sweetly past the visiting keeper.
Unfortunately having to play defenders in midfield Clipstone never looked like taking the game by the scruff of it's neck, and were lucky that the Appleby front players were lacking a killer instinct. Having scored 3 and 5 respectively in their previous two league games, they were certainly not firing on all cylinders in this game.
Was with our buddy Mark Hales throughout the game - Mark is the Clippo goalkeeping coach. His charge today was Jonny Parker who is, it has to be said, rather on the diminutive side for a keeper. Having said that, Parker did well to rise and punch a header onto bar on 44 when it looked in all the way. H-T 1-0
Mark Hales
Invited into the hospitality suite for a cuppa and a sandwich at half-time, and very welcome too - thanks everyone!
The home team came out for the second half with a little more purpose, and more or less stopped the visitors forward momentum by moving Bramwell into the midfield, leaving Stubley up top on his own.
Appleby themselves changed things with 20 minutes to play - and began asking serious questions of the home defence. This was when being overloaded with defenders paid off for the Cobras - any danger snuffed out before it came to fruition. F-T 1-0
Great to see Brett Marshall in dugout action again - Chairman and Manager roles do not often combine too well - but Clippo are currently lying in third place in the NCEL Division One table! I think they will face a much sterner test on Monday when they entertain Shaw Lane Aquaforce.
Technical area, Brett!!
Admission - courtesy Clipstone FC - cheers Brett!
Programme - £1
Attendance - 71
Coffee - courtesy Clipstone FC - many thanks
