Cleethorpes Town claimed their first points of their NCEL Premier Division campaign in a 3-1 win over Athersley Recreation. The Owls took the lead through Peter Winn. They then extended the lead as Daniel Trott struck a brace with a goal either side of half time. However, Trott then saw red as he was dismissed for two yellow cards. Athersley grabbed a late goal and piled on the pressure but the Owls held out.

Manager Marcus Newell made three changes to the starting line-up from Tuesday 6-3 loss to Rainworth Miners Welfare. Daniel Grant, Lawrence Heward and Brody Robertson all returned to the squad.

The Owls started the better of the two sides and immediately went on the offensively. Trott should have opened the scoring in just the third minute but he could only head wide from a long looping cross from Luke Mascall.

Just 30 seconds later Mascall spurned a great chance heading straight at Athersley’s Shaun Penn. Penn then had to be on guard moments after as a short corner was well work from Flett to Winn but as the ball was partially cleared captain Darren Hanslip skewed his shot just wide of the mark.

Trott, in the 10 minute then dragged a shot just wide after Flett had sprinted 50 yards with the ball to tee him up but Trott’s shooting boot were not on at this stage.

The first notable attack from the Penguins came in the 14th minute as Joe Oliver saw a headed effort cleared off the line by Daniel Grant who was in the right place at the right time.

It was not long though before the home crowd had something to cheer about. Winn collected the ball 30 yards out and unleashed a swirling dipping low shot into the bottom corner giving Penn no chance in the process.

The ball was in the back of the net once more five minutes later but Robertson was to be denied his second goal of the season by the assistant on the far side who had flagged for offside against the youngster.

Pressure mounted on the Penguins goal with Marc Cooper, Mascall and Flett all going close in successive minutes. Cooper simply missed the ball with the goal at his mercy, the same occurred for Mascall even closer in then Flett rifled a powerful shot just inches over the bar.

However, it was Trott who found the back of the net just before the break when he nodded home a Cooper cross from the right sending the home fans into delirium.

With no changes at the break Athersley looked for a way back into the game but found their lack of penetration a key factor in their failure to score. The closest they came to scoring came in the 50th minute when Kieran Scargill tested Barford in the Owls goal from a 25-yard free kick after Winn committed a foul. But, Barford was more than equal to it making a fine save.

As the Owls broke, a long ball was played up field and latched onto by Trott. He out ran the last defender, rounded the keeper and stroked the ball into the empty net much to his delight.

It went from fantastic to disastrous for Trott within the space of 3 minutes. He received a red card for two yellow cards, which he was brandished for two similar fouls right in front of the referee giving the official no choice but to send the striker for an early shower.

Athersley, having had the extra man then pushed forward looking for a way back into the game but found frustration in the form of Barford as he continued his fine form keeping out Kai Hancock from a close range free-kick.

With just seven minutes left on the close, the Penguins managed to break through the Owls defence and Adam White squeezed the ball home past the despairing Barford.

As time ticked on the Owls looked the more likely to score and should have extended their lead as Cooper broke away on the left, cut inside, square it to Flett but Penn could not be beaten as he was down quickly to deny the midfielder.

The referee blew for full-time shortly after as the Owls finally kick started their season.