Cleethorpes Town recorded their first win in the North East counties League Division 1 in game that was played in good spirit at the Bradley Community Stadium in front of 170 watching supporters in a game sponsored by the Linden Homes Club.

From kick off Cleethorpes had the first attack but it was Bottesford who looked the more threatening going close as Steven McCarron saw an effort deflect wide off Richard Peck, the resultant corner saw a scramble in the box with Cleethorpes struggling to clear and McCarron saw Scott Drury save low down. Cleethorpes Town where having to absorb some early Bottesford pressure.

Cleethorpes then, through Debutant Jamie Steel played the ball into Marc Cooper who layed it off to Lee Mcfarland whose shot was well saved Robert Zand in the Bottesford goal in what was Cleethorpes first effort on goal. Cleethorpes naturally saw their confidence rise and Tim Lowe crossed to the far post where Luke Mascall headed it back across goal against the upright where the ball fell into the path of Lee McFarland who slotted into the net to provide Cleethorpes with the lead.

Bottesford responded and within 3 minutes found themselves level as Drury pulled a fine save off a shot from Danny Boulton it fell to Dominic Stones who scored on the angle before Drury could set himself again. The game then went into a phase going end to end with Mascall shooting wide following a knock down from Cooper, Bottesfords goalscorer Stones was proving a handful for the Cleethorpes defence and was attacking Daniel Barrett at full back with some direct running and saw an effort cut out for a corner as Peck swept up behind Barrett. The resultant corner saw Mike Thompson head over the bar.

Half time came with scorers level at 1 – 1

The second half started with two Cleethorpes Town substitutions with Philip Cawley and Ricky Belding replacing Aaron Greenbeck and Lee McFarland. Bottesford forced Drury on to a fine double save as first he saved a Thompson shot at point blank range and the rebound fell to Stones as Drury shut him out as well the saves clearly lifted Cleethorpes. Cleethorpes where continuing to press, with Steel being denied as he was played through as Zand was off his line. Cooper and Belding saw efforts go wide as Cleethorpes where looking to take a hold on the game and cross in from Steel to the edge of the area saw one of the goals of the season as Mascall produced a fine acrobatic over head kick from the edge of the area into the top corner to the applause of the watching crowd who appreciated the goal that was of the highest quality.
Though the elation did not last long as Bottesford bounced straight back as McCarron scored from close range in the box. The game went end to end again as both sides searched for a winner with Cawley, Mascall and Cooper all going close for Cleethorpes and at the other end efforts from La Rocca and Stones for Bottesford. Darren Hanslip replaced Cooper as Cleethorpes looked to shuffle the pack in one last push for a winner and as the ball was won back in midfield Mascall played the ball to Belding who raced onto towards the box and as Zand came out Belding curled the ball delightfully round the advancing keeper into the net.

Bottesford certainly did not think the game was over as McCarron shot against the bar in the closing stages but as Bottesford pressed forward Belding broke away and fed it across the box where Mascall shot wide with the net at his mercy but the miss did not prove costly as referee blew for full time in victory that sent Cleethorpes to the top of the league due to goals scored a position they will certainly not be in the next time they play on Saturday 25th August against Pontefract Colleries.