Liversedge 2 Cleethorpes Town 6

LIVERSEDGE suffered a dreadful start to the new Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division campaign when they were spanked with six of the best by newly-promoted Cleethorpes Town.

The visitors to Clayborn had come up as Division One champions and were brimming with confidence as they made the perfect start to life in the top tier at Sedge’s expense.

Town broke the deadlock after just five minutes, Marc Cooper netting the opener, but Scott Driscoll pulled Sedge level with a 25th-minute penalty.

The visitors edged back in front through Alex Flett but a Kieran Corley strike meant Sedge were level at the break.

Cooper bagged his second to put Town back in front just before the hour and three goals in a nine-minute spell late on slanted the scoreline hugely in favour of the visitors.

Darren Hanslip and Jonathan Oglesby were on target before Cooper completed his hat-trick and the scoring six minutes from time.

Sedge spokesman John Hewitt said: “It was a close game and at 2-2 at half-time we had been the better side. But Cleethorpes sussed out how to play against us and they had a good second half.”