The game begun in a very 1 sided fashion with Stainton taking the lead in the first minute of play. A good through ball from Neil McLoughlin setting Paul Jenkins through 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper and stroking the ball past him.
The game seemed to then balance out with both teams making mistakes and cancelling each other out. That was until the 11th minute, when the referee dismissed appeals for a very certain looking Stainton penalty. After the ball was played into him Lewis Tidy tried to turn on the ball inside the box before being hauled to the floor.
On 14 minutes it looked like the penalty claim may have been vindicated, when a long goal kick was passed first time into the path of McLoughlin who fired the ball home for 2-0 Stainton.
In the same minute an injury to Terry Jones meant an early Stainton substitution with Matty Devine replacing him on the right.
The game continued in a balanced manner with both side cancelling themselves out until on 37 minutes Clairville got o the score sheet, when a ball through the defence left the striker to simply lob the stranded Stainton goalkeeper and score. 2-1 Stainton.
At half time Stainton were forced to change to a 4-4-2 formation, after another injury, this time for Nathan Tidy led to him being replaced with Mark Roulston.
Clairville drew level shortly after, when on 48 minutes a free kick was played into the box, which was flicked on and into the net.
The game continued to be contested hotly with the referee seemingly to be letting everything go.
On 68 minutes a corner for Clairville on the left was not dealt with and ended up with the ball being poked home at the front post for 3-2 Clairville.
On 72 minutes a beautiful pass from Neil McLoughlin set Lewis Tidy free, but this was called back after appeals from the sideline seemed to distract the referee, who then gave a throw in, before changing this decision to off-side.
6 minutes later the referee then turned down another penalty appeal from Stainton, when after a push in the back on Neil McLoughlin stayed on his feet and was allowed to play on before being tripped from behind on the edge of the 6 yard box.
The game continued and despite pushing for an equaliser, Stainton ended up slumping to their second defeat of the season.
Stainton’s best player was given to Andy Corfield who had a half descent game at the back.
Mentions also for Stuart Murphy who played well despite an injury.
