THE Owls secured a win over Clipstone Welfare – cheered on by the largest crowd of the day in Northern Counties East League Division One.
A bumper Bradley Community Stadium attendance of 214 – thanks partly to the free entry vouchers in last week's Telegraph – watched as Clee cemented second place in the table.
The next biggest crowd of the day came at Pontefract Collieries where 145 saw their defeat to leaders Athersley Recreation, who remain four points ahead of the Owls.
It was Andy Liddle's (left) hosts who got off to the better start, winning battles for possession and creating openings through good passing.
However the opening quarter of an hour failed to bring with it any spark, as neither side showed urgency going forward.
Cleethorpes had perhaps the best chance in the first 20 minutes when the ball was played through to Marc Cooper who was caught offside.
The home side drew first blood on 22 minutes. Passing was key as the ball found its way to Jack Debnam, who struck a vicious shot low down to the keeper's right.
Debnam then forced another save moments later following more good passing in the middle of the park.
After that the chances flowed and Cleethorpes should have been five or six goals to the good at half-time.
However, the score remained 1-0 to the Owls until just after the break. Clipstone's Adam Soames found himself in space, and his shot crept in at the far post to put the visitors on level terms.
Lee Tryner's side were boosted by the goal and pushed forward, giving them the edge in the early stages of the second period.
Clee made amends for their slow start, however.
Ricky Belding, below, slotted home on 53 minutes to restore the lead, after the ball sprang loose on the left of midfield.
It took the striker just four minutes to score again after being allowed too much time and space on the ball, which he squeezed in at the near post to make it 3-1.
Clee had looked solid at the start of the game, but as the clash wore on defensive lapses began to creep in. They paid for that on 65 minutes as Soames added his second for the visitors.
However, nine minutes later, and any hopes of a Clipstone comeback were extinguished as Debnam smashed in a fourth for the home side, sealing a well-earned victory in a tough and competitive fixture.
