Match report - Cleethorpes Town vs Dunston UTS FC
Dunston UTS FC travelled to Cleethorpes Town for a Pitching-In Northern Premier League East Division fixture.
The two sides had shown impressive form since the turn of the year, with the home side unbeaten in 2022, whilst Dunston’s only loss of 2022 coming away to Lincoln United last weekend.
The visitors started the day in 7th place and a win against a 3rd placed Cleethorpes Town was a must, as well as hoping that sides above them dropped points, if Chris Swailes side were to catch ground on the teams above them and somehow force their way into the play-offs.
Although Dunston are currently 10 points off the final play-off place, they do have a game in hand, and as Assistant Manager Jon McDonald mentioned in last weekend’s programme notes, there is likely to be more twists and turns before the season ends.
Cleethorpes named recent signing Curt Morrison as a substitute, the former Chesterfield forward having joined from Gainsborough Trinity.
Dunston were without Terry Galbraith and Phil Turnbull, Jude Swailes returned to the starting XI, with Jake Turnbull starting from the bench and Dan O’Reilly named as a sub, having recently joined the club.
In difficult conditions and with a strong wind to contend with, the opening 20 minutes saw little in the way of clear cut chances for either side.
On 20 minutes Cleethorpes Town’s Luke Lofts linked up with Brody Robertson, the pair playing a quick one two, only for the move lack the incisive finish. Dunston could’ve taken the lead on 28, a well worked move ended as Richard Coulson fired his shot over the bar.
The lively looking Lofts headed narrowly wide for the home side following a slick passage of play for the hosts. In a competitive first half of few chances, the two sides went into the break level as the game remained goalless.
The Owls had the woodwork to thank on 53 minutes as Liam Thear crashed his effort off the bar.
10 minutes later, an in-form Richard Coulson put Dunston into the lead, finishing superbly from a Michael Fowler assist.
The final 10 minutes of play saw a flurry of cautions, both Jude Swailes and Cleethorpes' Tim Lowe finding themselves in the book whilst Jake Stafford was somehow cautioned, having received a blow to the face from an opponent.
Despite the home side’s best efforts to try and find an equaliser, they had been unable to carve out any threats of note against an indomitable Dunston defence. Alas 3 minutes into injury time, in what was their first effort on target, the home side denied Dunston a much needed win, as substitute Snelgrove fired an unstoppable shot beyond Connell to rescue a point.
Match day photography courtesy of Beauty Time Photography, available to view on the below link
