A first home league defeat of the campaign was inflicted upon the Highwaymen as Cleethorpes Town won 4-2 at Craik Park on Saturday. Here’s what we learned from the game:
Iulian Petrache can’t be given an inch of space in the box.
The centre-back, who was our top scorer until mid-November, was back among the goals with a thunderous header in the eighth minute. It gave the Highwaymen an early lead from a corner and it highlighted his undoubted talent of finishing off chances at set-plays. It’s certainly no secret as he now has seven goals to his name this campaign, better than most players in the division.
Danny Carson will be missing for an extended period of time.
The rapid defender was guiding a ball out of play for a goal-kick when he chopped down off the pitch, with the ball out of play. It was an unnecessary and dangerous challenge from Jon Oglesby which left Danny Carson clutching what would later be confirmed as a broken ankle. Danny will be a big miss in defence but most importantly, everyone at the club wishes him well for a speedy recovery.
Form is temporary, class is permanent.
It is rare that this article will compliment an opposition player, but Scott Vernon – formerly of Aberdeen and Grimsby Town – showed that class is permanent with an expertly taken goal (Cleethorpes’ fourth) as he showed a predatory instinct to latch on to a loose ball before rounding Dan Lowson and slotting into an empty net. It’s one thing to highlight his threat pre-match, but it is something very different to stop him.
