Cleethorpes Town suffered their second successive league defeat on Saturday as they lost 4-1 away at Albion Sports. Goals from Asif Hussain, Danny Cunningham, Michael O’Brien and Alex Cusack were enough to see the hosts collect all three points. Substitute Danny Trott pulled one back for the Owls but Marcus Newell’s men were out fought on the day.

Newell made just one change from their FA Cup win last weekend as Lawrence Heward came in for the unavailable Richard Peck.

The Owls made a great start to the game as they pressed forward in the opening minutes looking for a quick goal but former Chester FC player Peter Winn fed in striker Marc Cooper he fired his shot over the bar much to his annoyance.

At the other end, Cusack was denied brilliantly by Tim Lowe as he stopped their striker who had checked inside Luke Mascall and was ready to shoot but Lowe slid in well to block.

Albion kept knocking at the Owls door but keeper Jody Barford was quick enough out of his goal to deny Marcus Edwards who was bearing down on goal.

With just 12 minutes on the clocked Winn found space just outside the area and tried a reverse pass to Caine Winfarrah who would have only had the keeper to beat had the pass not been over hit.

Both teams were becoming frustrated by the lack of any clear cut chances but then Albion’s Cunningham took the game by the scruff of the neck and took on two Owls defenders, skipped past them and shot just inches wide of the right hand side post.

Just three minutes later a penalty was awarded in controversial fashion as Lawrence Heward made what seemed like a fair challenge but the referee decided he had caught the man first and a penalty kick was awarded to Albion Sports.

Hussain took the ball, placed it on the spot and duly stroked the ball home passed Barford who has guessed the correct way.

The goal for the hosts gave them the impetus to go on and get a second goal just six minutes later. Cunningham gave chase to a long hopeful ball up field. He closed down Lowe who tried to clear but his clearance hit the midfielder and went straight into the net giving Barford no chance.

It should have been 3-0 to the hosts just before the break but the assistant on the near side signalled for offside as Edward knocked in a low cross from the left.

The break could not come quick enough for the Owls, as they needed to re-group following a difficult half.

With no changes at the break Albion restarted the half and could have scored within 15 seconds. A long ball from James Firth found Edward who broke the last line of defence but he shot wide of the mark with the goal at his mercy.

An immediate response was ordered by Newell from the sideline and this nearly occurred as Heward headed inches over Jack Bentley’s bar following a long free kick.

The Owls pushed further forward looking for a way back into the game and thought they had it as a great ball over found Brody Robertson at the back post who headed the ball straight at the keeper. However, it appeared that the ball had crossed the line and the players certainly made their feelings known but the referee was having none of it and after checking with the linesman it was agreed that the ball had not crossed the line.

Newell made his first substitution moments later bringing off Winfarrah and replacing him with top scorer Trott.

As soon as he had entered the field, the ball was played up field by Albion, it was then knocked into the path of O’Brien who sweetly stuck the ball home from 25 yards into the top corner giving Barford little hope of saving the ball.

The response from the visitors came just seven minutes after when Trott made a sublime 30 yard run and then smashed the ball home past Bentley into the far corner giving the travelling support hope.

Newell made a double substitution just after the restart bringing on Jack Richardson and Jonathan Oglesby, replacing Winn and Robertson.

In the 73rd minute Cooper saw a close range shot well saved at one end. The ball broke quickly up field where Barford was called into action to made a world class one-handed sprawling save pushing Arin Basi’s shot onto the post to deny the holding midfielder.

The game was put beyond any doubt though with six minutes of the ninety remaining. Cusack collected the ball 30 yards out and arrowed a diagonal shot into the far corner with a static Barford on looking.

Another “did it cross the line?” moment occurred as the Owls went in search of a late comeback as Alex Flett saw his header cleared by Hussain in another controversial moment.

The Owls ran out of steam going into added time as the game petered out leaving the Owls with no points still from their opening two league games.