Cleethorpes Town hosted Louth Town in the opening game of their NCEL season as the finale of the Cleethorpes Town’s involvement in the Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day that had seen the clubs coaches receive development coaching, exhibition games between the clubs under 18’s, 17’s, 16’s and 15’s and an coaching session for the clubs young players prior to kick off, where many who had participated in the day came to watch the Marcus Newell’s first game at the helm.

It a typical opener both sides struggled to find any rhythm and cohesion but where this was lacking it was made up with 100% commitment as the early stages saw a number of crunching tackles, Richard Peck back at Cleethorpes following a brief spell at Louth last season had to make a last ditch tackle to clear the danger in Louth’s first attack.

Cleethorpes first attack saw Luke Mascall fire a shot straight at the Louth Keeper, then a Nathan Emson cross from the by-line just evaded an advancing Mascall, minutes later Mascall headed over a Daniel Grant cross. Cleethorpes thought they had taken the lead when Marc Cooper found himself free and as he slotted the ball home he saw that the flag was up for offside. A corner for Cleethorpes saw the Louth Goalkeeper drop the ball at the feet of James Osbourne who’s effort was deflected wide for a corner, the resultant corner saw Peck head over the bar.
Cleethorpes where dominated the play in the final third, then Cooper raced away once more but the Louth Keeper did well and managed to save at the strikers feet before Fenty in the Cleethorpes goal was at hand to save a header from a corner for Louth.

The second half was very slow to start as Louth seamed intent of sitting back and the breakthrough finally came for Cleethorpes in the 77th minute as a cross into the box found Cooper who side footed the ball into the bottom corner to give Cleethorpes the lead, a lead that was doubled when a cross from Oglesby saw Mascall head the ball back across goal to Cooper who obligued by stroking the ball into the net for his second of the game. Then he nearly got his hat trick as he narrowly missed the target after Oglesby had set him up. It was the first win for Marcus Newell’s side one that there is plenty to build on as they face the long mid week trip AFC Emley on Tuesday Night