The Owls got off to a perfect start as Brody Robertson opened the scoring with just 26 seconds on the clock. Marc Cooper dispossessed Pontefract’s Josh Corbett before threading the ball through for his strike partner Roberston who slotted the ball under goalkeeper Richard Watson.

Cleethorpes almost doubled their lead less than a minute later as Robertson’s cross was deflected by home defender Luke Danville onto his own cross bar. The shell shocked hosts were almost caught out again with just four minutes on the clock as Luke Mascall’s effort was cleared off the line.

Both sides were forced into an early substitution after a nasty looking clash of heads occurred between Pontefract’s Aaron Joseph and Clee’s Liam Dickens that resulted in the players going to hospital for stitches.

The home side began to settle but took 17 minutes to muster a meaningful attempt on goal as Danville headed just wide from a well delivered corner. Clee goalkeeper Miles Fenty was called into action for the first time moments later as he saved comfortably from Aaron Moxam’s lobbed effort.

The Owls were reduced to ten men with just 22 minutes played as midfielder Jack Richardson saw red for a late challenge on Iwan Heeley. Although the tackle was late, it appeared to be mistimed rather than malicious and the red card sparked protests from the Owls bench that ended with manager Marcus Newell also being sent to the stands.

A low shot from Moxam was well saved by Fenty before Liam Radford’s curling free kick went just wide as Pontefract looked to take advantage of their one man advantage. However, against the odds it was Cleethorpes who doubled their lead right on the stroke of half time as Peter Winn’s through ball found Robertson free on the left hand side to stroke the ball past Watson and into the net.

Robertson was denied a hat trick in the first minute of the second half as Watson blocked well with his legs. The Owls striker didn’t have to wait long to claim the match ball though as he struck again with 51 minutes played, latching onto Coopers’s flick from Winn’s corner before smashing the ball past the despairing dive of the Pontefract goalkeeper.

Cooper’s shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Watson before Fenty produced a great save at the other end to deny Mark Whitehouse, tipping the ball over the bar.

The numbers on the field were evened up after 63 minutes as Cooper rounded Watson only to be brought down by Danville as he prepared to steer the ball into the empty net. As the last man the inevitable red card followed for Danville before Cooper dusted himself down to send Watson the wrong way from the spot to give the Owls a 4-0 lead.

Cleethorpes increased their lead further just three minutes later as Luke Mascall tapped home from close range after some neat build up play.

The Owls came close again as efforts from Danny Trott and Alex Flett tested Watson before a lovely move involving Flett, and Trott ended with Mascall heading the ball into the side netting.

Darren Hanslip somehow managed to fire over the bar from two yards out after great work on the left hand side from Trott before the Owls completed the scoring in the final minute as Mascall finished into the bottom corner to net his second goal of the afternoon.

With 8 wins in a row, 37 goals scored in those 8 games and confidence high Cleethorpes will look to keep their winning run going on Wednesday evening when an eagerly anticipated Lincolnshire derby takes place at Bradley between the Owls and Barton Town Old Boys. Kick off will be at 7.45pm