Cleeve Development earn promotion after play-off is replayed

BISHOP’S Cleeve Development clinched the final place in the Gloucestershire County League at the second time of asking after beating Winterbourne United 4-1 in their replayed promotion play-off game.

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The sides originally met on May 10 at Oaklands Park, with Hellenic League Division Two West champions Cleeve winning 4-1 over their Bristol Premier Combination opponents.

But Cleeve were accused of fielding an ineligible player - a claim they strenuously denied - but the appeal from Winterbourne was upheld and it was decided the match should be replayed.

Cleeve duly repeated the scoreline from that first meeting, as a brace from Noah Parker and a goal for Tommy Bond had them 3-0 up at half-time.

Winterbourne pulled one back, but a Bond penalty in stoppage time sealed the promotion place.