Collicutt hails Cleeve’s finest performance as they sink rivals
MANAGER Paul Collicutt hailed Bishop’s Cleeve’s finest team performance of the season as the Mitres lead at the top of the Hellenic League, Premier Division stands at eight points with a 3-1 win over nearest challengers Malvern Town.
Striker Jordan Annear scored twice in the firest half after a morning drive from Cornwall to play, with a Jack Watts penalty sealing the win.
“It was a bit of a worry as Jordan has come all the way up from Truro,” said Collicutt.
“It has taken him three and a half hours - that is commitment for you but I have told him he can go and live in Truro and travel to Cleeve every week if he puts in a performance like that.
“He was outstanding today as was everyone who had a green shirt on.”
Both sides had selection problems going into the match with Malvern having some positive covid tests in the morning and Cleeve missing goalkeeper Luke Merchant and defender Leroy Odiero with Linden Dovey only fit for the bench, with Will Turner and Will Taylor making only their second appearances of the season.
Turner has joined Bishops Cleeve on a dual registration deal from Westonsuper-mare, while second-year scholar Taylor has arived on loan from Cheltenham Town.
“Everyone put in a good shift, it was probably the best team performance we have had all season,” said Collicutt.
“The two young lads Will Turner and Will Taylor deserve a special mention Will Taylor was introduced to the players an hour before kick off and he has come in and done exceptionally well, as has Will Turner
“It speaks volumes that they have come in and enjoyed it and it was a great game of football.”
Malvern had the first chance of the match with the ever-dangerous Harry Clark being put through down the left but his shot didn’t trouble the returning Sam Jepson in the Cleeve goal.
Sam Blackie had Cleeve’s first opportunity as the ball fell to him on the edge of the area but his shot went well over the bar.
Jordan Annear then saw his shot tipped onto the crossbar by Malvern keeper Keiron Blackburn before a sustained spell of Cleeve pressure.
Keiran Alder showed great tenacity to hold onto the ball in the Malvern area despite being strongly handled before a minute later he broke through into the box, but a perfectly timed challenge by the defender saw the ball go for a corner.
Jack Watts then latched onto a long ball forward but his effort was blocked by Blackburn, but it felt like it was only a matter of time until Cleeve broke the deadlock and so it proved.
A good piece of play on the right saw Alder get clear and from the byline he was able to pull his cross back to Jordan Annear at the near post, and headed home to give the Mitres the lead.
Watts nearly capitalised on some hesitant defending, battling to get on the end of a long ball but his shot ended up going wide before the hosts started having their own period of pressure.
First, it took a good Turner block to deny Clark but the Malvern winger wasn’t to be denied a goal involvement as just after the half hour his cross was met by an unmarked David Reynolds who came flying in to power home a header in the centre of the goal.
However, Cleeve showed why they themselves have been in every match this season, even when on the back foot, when just two minutes later, Watts slid in Annear one on one with Blackburn and the Mitres forward made no mistake to restore the lead.
Malvern nearly came back again on the stroke of half time with former Cleeve striker Joe Bates seeing his effort blocked before Joe Bullock’s follow up hit the bar as Cleeve went into half time 2-1 up.
But the Mitres had gone in in front at half time in the reverse fixture before losing 5-3 and knew they would have to put in a performance for the whole 90 minutes this time to get something from the game.
They were helped when 10 minutes into the second half Watts was fouled in the area to give the visitors a penalty.
After a significant delay in which Alder was forced off with an injury from an earlier challenge, Watts stepped up to score his 25th goal of the season.
From then on Cleeve looked to be in control, although they still needed to deal with some attacks down the right from Clark and Lewis Platt but in the end they sealed a victory to go eight points clear at the top of the league.