Premier Division
Bishops Cleeve 2 North Leigh FC 1
Saturday, 21 August 2004
A delighted Paul Collicutt saw his Bishops Cleeve side come from behind to gain their first opening day victory since promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division.
Cleeve were slow out of the starting blocks and North Leigh took a deserved lead after 15 minutes with a superb volley by Harry Burnley after a cross from Adam Hamp. Cleeve were lucky not to go further behind with chances from Hamp and Lewis as Cleeve found it difficult to keep possession. After 22 minutes Mitch Counsell's 20-yard shot rolled wide. Somewhat against the run of play Cleeve pulled back level after 27 minutes. Jerry Packham found Leon Canning on the right touchline he ran fully 40 yards into the area and drove the ball into the bottom corner for a goal on his debut. After 35 minutes Andy Tucker had a 20-yard shot which the keeper gathered comfortably. A minute later a great run and shot from North Leigh's Harry Burnley flew wide of the upright. A further minute later a mistake at the back let in Gary Murphy on the right but everybody missed his superb cross.
Half Time: 1-1
Whilst Cleeve can consider them selves fortunate to be level at the break, the second half was far better. In the 51st minute Steve Cleal laid the ball off to Mitch Counsell and his 12-yard shot flew over the bar. A minute later a fine Jerry Packham cross was headed straight at the keeper by Kevin Slack. Cleeve scored what would be the winner after 55 minutes. Kevin Slack lifted a fine Steve Cleal ball over the advancing keeper. A minute later John Skeen produced a fine save to thwart Liam Hope's 25-yard drive. Clear-cut chances were then limited for both sides until the 70th minute when Kevin Slack's shot went just wide. After 73 minutes Steve Cleal met a good cross from John Hills at speed though the defender took the pace of it and it fell kindly for the keeper. Two minutes later John Hills saw his 15-yard drive whistle past the far post. A minute after that North Leigh hit back and Adam Hamp forced a tip-over save from John Skeen. The last five minutes were tense for Cleeve as they struggled to clear their lines. North Leigh, hitting the wall and firing over, wasted two dangerously positioned free kicks. Resolute defending ensured that the three points were Cleeve's.
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