Bower at the double for Bishops Cleeve as they hone in on a place for the play-offs

Goals from Aaron Evans-Harriot and Matt Bower sealed 3 points for Bishops Cleeve at Kayte Lane as they returned to winning ways after last week’s defeat at Mousehole, writes Alfie Richmond.

Saturday’s match saw both teams pay tribute to Jordan Chiedozie of Bashley, who was hospitalized following a car accident. Bishops Cleeve collected bucket donations throughout the game to support him and his family.

The home side scored early when Bower’s sweetly struck effort from 25 yards rocketed into the top corner, giving Cleeve the lead inside 8 minutes.

Moments later, the ball fell nicely to Ben McLean when Bashley failed to deal with a ball in the box, but his snap-shot shot looped over the bar.

The visitors slowly settled into the game. On 18 minutes, Luke Holmes sent a beauty of a cross into the Cleeve box that was eventually well defended.

The hosts continued to probe for a second throughout the first half, but Bashley were determined to keep themselves in the game, making brave blocks and tackles at every given opportunity.

The 35th minute presented a great chance for Bash as Logan Laird got the final touch in a frenzy of attempts, with his header eventually falling kindly into the arms of Lewis Clayton.

4 minutes later, Bashley’s Lewis Waterfield had all sorts of room to unleash a long range effort after Cleeve failed to cope with a couple of crosses, though it was again comfortable for Clayton.`

Huge appeals were made from Cleeve’s bench on the 43rd when Mitchell-Carton Speechley-Price’s two footed lunge sent McLean crashing to the ground; deemed only a yellow card by the referee.

Moments before the half-time whistle, Bower netted his second after a pinpoint delivery from an Evans-Harriott corner was nodded home from barely a yard out. It was a crucial goal for the Mitres, coming at a time when Bashley were starting to gain momentum and put Cleeve under the cosh.

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Cleeve started the second half brightly. Evans-Harriot’s through ball to McLean forced a strong save out of Charlie Philcott 6 minutes in, while Ross Langworthy was millimeters away from making it 3 after Dunbar’s cross.

The third eventually came for the Mitres on 66 minutes, when the freshly introduced Jay Malshanskyj burst down the left hand side for his cut-back to find Evans-Harriot, who elegantly brushed the ball into the far corner.

The Hampshire side began to tire, while Cleeve’s substitutions freshened up their game; namely when Joe Jeremiah teed up Malshanskyj, but his effort was well blocked.

14 minutes remained when Bash’s Harvey-Joe Bertrand’ shot from a tight angle was sharply stopped by Clayton who, seconds later, made another wonderful save to deny Lewis Ross from point-blank range.

Harry Leeson looked to add a fourth for the hosts in the closing minutes, but his effort didn’t trouble the keeper, and the full-time whistle was blown.

The Mitres firmly remain in the play-off race, and now await back-to-back away trips over the next 10 days against Willand Rovers and Bemerton Heath Harlequins, before returning to Kayte Lane on 22nd March to face Didcot Town. Bashley will play at home next week as they host Helston Athletic.

Bishops Cleeve: Clayton (GK); Turner, Nelmes (Jeremiah 55’), Liddiard, Bower, Turley, Davies, McLean (Selman 70’), Dunbar (Malshanskyj 61’), Langworthy © (Harding 61’), Evans-Harriot (Leeson 70’).

Bashley: Philpott (GK), Bertrand, Bertie, Edmondson, Walster, Laird (Dunesby-Bent 70’), Waterfield, Ross ©, Speechley-Price (Williams 45’), Holmes, Whiteley (Bungay 77’).

Subs Not Used: Lewis, Skoczen.

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Matt Bower (Bishops Cleeve)