Stylish Staveley wrap up their season with easy win

Two goals from Tyla Bell and one from Andrew Fox helped Staveley finish a highly creditable sixth in the 22-team Northern Counties East League’s Premier Division table, albeit nine points off the top five and a whopping 39 points behind runaway champions Cleethorpes Town.

In front of a crowd of 251 at Inkersall Road, they made a bright start in which Adam Lee forced a save from visiting goalkeeper Andy Francis. But it was developing into an even contest before Bell beat Clipstone’s dodgy offside trap to round Francis and open the scoring in the 20th minute.

Three minutes later, the same player took advantage of a slip at the back to double Staveley’s lead, and the home side grabbed a third goal on the stroke of half-time when a ball into the penalty area was punched clear by Francis straight to Fox, who cleverly chipped home into an unguarded net from just outside the box.

To their credit, Clipstone did better in a stale second period, but Staveley were rarely threatened. In the dying minutes, the lively Bell almost completed his hat-trick, only to be denied by a fine save from Francis.