Clifton takes their chances as Ingles slip to defeat
UCL DIVISION ONE
INGLES 0 CLIFTON ALL WHITES 2 CLIFTON came away from The Dovecote with all three points after a first-half header and a late goal finished Ingles.
On a horrible afternoon for football with gale force winds blowing from one end of the pitch to another the game was never going to be a game for the purist.
Ingles began by defending against the wind and the back three of Warren, Rock and Scargill coped well throughout the half.
Clifton rarely made Hewitson in goal make a save with most of the play being in the middle of the pitch. Clifton controlled the ball pretty much all half but when Ingles could get out they broke well and created a few half chances that didn’t come to anything.
On 30 minutes Rock went down with an injured ankle that he had been carrying for 10 minutes after an earlier challenge. This time he went off as Ingles defended a corner and from this corner the Clifton player headed home. Rock was subsequently subbed for Tebbatt which meant Snaith went into the back 3. Ingles saw out the half well with Clifton only making a few half chances and Ingles were looking forward to having the strong wind behind them in the second half.
As is Ingles’ luck at the minute when they came out for the second half the wind had significantly dropped which massively reduced the wind advantage and made it easier for Clifton to clear the ball and get out. Ingles still took the game to Clifton and on 50 minutes great work between Fowkes and Corcoran resulted in Corcoran going past the last defender but was met by a great save by the Clifton keeper.
Things got worse for Ingles later that half as Corcoran found himself free in the box, about to shoot but was then shoved two handed in the back but to the shock of everyone in the ground no penalty was given and Clifton cleared.
Five minutes later another flashpoint, again with Corcoran as he fouled a Clifton player who jumped up and ran after Corcoran and proceeded to hit him in the face. The player only got a yellow card and was then quickly substituted to avoid a red card that he should have got.
On 70 minutes Scargill went down injured promoting Wilkes to make his third and final sub but then five minutes later Warren was on the receiving end of an elbow to the face which forced him off and left Ingles to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men.
They battled well but the ball wouldn’t fall in the area. Tebbatt had a chance from the edge of the area that went just wide and Fowkes couldn’t quite reach a cross from Rawson. The game was sealed in the last minute as Clifton broke and their sub finished under Hewitson.
Credit to Clifton who took their chances and remained solid to frustrate Ingles but a game in which Ingles deserved something.