Clee had their advantage at the head of the East Division trimmed to a single point with a 1-0 reverse at Grimsby Borough on New Year’s Day.
The visitors had by far the better of the first period and missed a couple of gilt-edged chances. They were made to pay the full price, when former Owl Josh Venney seized on a through-ball to grab the winner.
Having survived an early inspection, the pitch at Bradley Stadium was heavy in several places and, combined with a strong wind and occasional rain, made life tricky for the players.
Nevertheless, Braithwaite nearly put the table-toppers ahead inside 40 seconds, but the opportunity disappeared, as the ball went narrowly wide.
Then, in the 10th minute and with the Owls dominant, Middleton planted a header just the wrong side of the angle of post and crossbar.
In the hosts’ best moment during the first period, O’Grady flew in to a make a timely intervention to snuff out the danger.
At the other end, Higton produced a smart save to fingertip round a 30-yarder from Abbott.
HT Grimsby Borough 0 Cleethorpes Town 0
The Owls would have been disappointed to go into the break without a deserved lead, and the frustration was compounded when Higton again denied Abbott with athletic goalkeeping.
Venney put Borough in front in the 56th minute, courtesy of a low finish into the corner of the net.
A robust #ElHaddocko, featuring several poor challenges and which had been pretty leniently refereed, exploded with a double sending-off on 77 minutes.
Vann and Wood got their marching orders. When the melee had died down, the officials contented themselves with just the two reds, although another couple could well have been brandished.
With each side down to 10, there was more space on the pitch for the remaining combatants. The visitors applied late pressure, but it did not produce the leveller.
At the end, the blue & black could content themselves with the fact that the title race remains firmly in their own hands.
FT Grimsby Borough 1 Cleethorpes Town 0
Team:
1. Ollie Battersby
2. Ben Middleton
3. George Smith (sub 82 replaced by 17. Brad Dockerty)
4. Jack Vann
5. Callum Foster
6. Connor O’Grady
7. Curtis Bateson (sub 69 replaced by 16. Josh Walker)
8. Brad Abbott (captain)
9. Adam Haw (sub 87 replaced by 12. Will Annan)
10. Aaron Braithwaite (sub 61 replaced by 14. Alex Flett)
11. Dan Gallimore (sub 46 replaced by 15. Nicky Walker)
Cards: Jack Vann (sent off), Ben Middleton, Callum Foster
Grimsby Borough goal: Josh Venney 56
Grimsby Borough cards: Brad Wood (sent off), Scott Fenwick, Charlie Clements
Attendance: 537
Man-of-the-match (generously sponsored by the Coach House): Adam Haw
Next up: Saturday 4th January (3pm) – NPL East – HOME v Stocksbridge Park Steels
UP THE OWLS!