Cleethorpes Town crashed out of the FA Cup in a narrow 1-0 loss on Saturday despite dominating against Mansfield side Clipstone. Adam Somes scored the only goal of the game mid-way through the second half to secure an FA Cup win for the Cobras.

Marcus Newell made three changes from last weeks 4-1 defeat to Albion Sports. Daniel Trott was handed his first FA Cup start, whilst Jonathan Oglesby and Liam Dickens were also recalled to the starting line-up.

The Cobras started off the game on the front foot and nearly took the lead through James Ashmore but he could only header over the bar from a long free-kick.

Just four minutes later Owls shot stopper Jody Barford was called into action for the first time as he raced out of his goal to smoother the ball as Jahmal Smith was bearing down on goal.

The Owls struggled to get going in the open ten minutes but then got into their stride and came close to opening the deadlock as Marc Cooper struck a sweet volley goal wards from a Trott flick on but Andy Francis was on hand to prevent a certain goal.

Sam Finlan nearly scored an own goal in the Owls favour in the 13th minute as a near post corner was sliced inches over the bar with Francis stranded.

At the other end, a swift break from Clipstone saw Jamie McAllister’s cross knocked down by Finlan to Smith but with the goal at his mercy he just could not get on the end to turn the ball into the net.

Cooper then really should have put the Owls into the lead but his frustration grew ever more as he dragged his shot wide of the mark in the 21st minute.

Trott, the Owls leading scorer this season then had three great opportunities but spurned the lot. First, a fantastic long through ball found the striker bearing down on the keeper but Jordan Hodder was having none of this as he put sufficient pressure on to ensure that Trott missed the target.

Then, just three minutes later he took on two Clipstone defenders, bumfuzzled his way past them but dragged his angled shot just wide of Francis’ post. Lastly, Luke Mascall whipped in a near post cross to Trott in the 33rd minute but Trott could only head over the bar much to his anguish.

As the half drew to a close, Trott once more headed wide, then left-back Lawrence Heward missed a good opportunity as he out-rose his marker but nodded the wrong side of the post. The pressure grew on Clipstone who was thankful for the half-time whistle as they brutally defended the closing minutes out.

With no changes at the break, the second half started slowly. Neither side created anything notable in the opening exchanges. It was not until the 51st minute that the first signs of an opening came as Cooper skewed his shot wide from just outside the area after beating Liam Nelthorpe and McAllister to the ball.

30 seconds later and from a cross from the right, Cooper glanced a header just inches wide leaving the travelling fans with hands on their heads.

Newell brought on last season top scorer Brody Robertson with just 30 minutes left in replacement of Jonathan Oglesby and this made an instant impact. Robertson got ahold of the ball 35 yards out and shimmied his way past Hodder, Brad Jones and Nelthorpe but his riffled shot was well parried out of play by Francis.

With the Owls pushing forward for the opening goal, Clipstone hit on the break. Finlan played through substitute Somes and he sided footed past Barford giving the Cobras a vital lead.

In the final ten minutes, the Owls pressed and pressed but however much they knocked on the door a goal just would not come. Hanslip glancing a header just wide was the closest they came and with two similar efforts from right-back Mascall going over from just outside the box, the Owls knew this was not going to be their day.

The final whistle came with a ripple of applause from the home side but the travelling Owls fans still chanted along showing great appreciation to the players for their efforts on a difficult and frustrating afternoon.