to record a 3-1 win at Bradley to move up to sixth place in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division table.

Cleethorpes were hit by injuries and unavailability and made 3 changes to the starting 11 that beat Racing Club Warwick a fortnight ago. Danny Grant, Danny Trott and Jon Oglesby replaced Darren Hanslip, Louis Grant and leading scorer Marc Cooper.

The Owls knew they were in for a difficult afternoon against opponents that were enjoying a good run to sit in fourth place in the league table prior to the kick off and against a Rainworth side that had beaten Cleethorpes 6-3 earlier in the season.

The visitors settled quickest and had already seen Jamie York shoot narrowly over the bar before the Wrens opened the scoring after just fourteen minutes. Owls defender Tim Lowe scuffed his attempted clearance allowing striker Liam Morris to stride into the penalty area before firing the ball past Miles Fenty. Rainworth almost increased their lead just three minutes later as a 20 yard shot by York flashed just wide.

Cleethorpes began to threaten and had loud penalty appeals waved away as Danny Trott appeared to be felled in the area by Rainworth goalkeeper Chris Gill. The Owls pressed again and equalised after 20 minutes as Luke Mascall’s cross was chested into the net by Brody Robertson from close range. The game was completely turned on it’s head just 3 minutes later as Cleethorpes took the lead through Laurence McKay, the defender heading home Peter Winn’s near post corner.

A curling effort from Mascall went just over the bar before Jon Oglesby’s shot was well saved by Gill. As half time approached Rainworth came close again as Morris headed York’s cross inches wide.

Rainworth began the second half on the offensive and Sam Dockwray’s speculative shot was turned wide by Fenty, the Owls keeper diving full length to get his fingertips to the ball.

Mascall’s neat dribble for Cleethorpes saw him free inside the penalty area but his shot was comfortably saved by Gill before Oglesby came close again with a shot that went the wrong side of the post.

Rainworth continued to press as the Owls struggled to clear the ball in the swirling wind and the visitors came close as Dockwray’s dipping shot flew just over the bar. A 30 yard free kick by Conner Smythe came equally close just moments later, fizzing over the bar.

Morris twisted and turned before firing wide in the closing minutes for Rainworth before the Owls made the points safe with a Danny Trott goal in injury time, the striker latching onto a Flett through ball before firing home.

Victory moves the Owls above their visitors in the table and means the team will head to Handsworth Parramore in the FA Vase 3rd Round next Saturday in high spirits. Kick off will be at 3pm.