CLANFIELD had a tough start to 2020 on Saturday with a trip to the league leaders Infinity, who have not lost a game so far this season.

The hosts started the game well and picked up the second balls to put Clanfield under pressure. Infinity took the lead when a ball over the top caught the Clanfield back four square and the home side made no mistake with the finish.

Clanfield responded superbly and equalised after strong running from midfield by Luke Grice, who passed to Elliot Sills who rounded the keeper and made no mistake.

That was as good as it got for Clanfield as the hosts’ strike partnership and the quality of delivery into the box proved too much for the visitors and Infinity raced into a 4-1 lead.

Clanfield’s Owen Milne then went through and beat the keeper, and when he got his shot away James Wilkinson deliberately stuck out his arm and was shown a red card.

The referee deemed the offence took place on the edge of the box, and Clanfield failed to make anything of the free kick.

The second half started with Clanfield huffing and puffing but Infinity managed the game well and got a couple of goals late on from counter attacks as the visitors were looking to get back in the game.

Clanfield manager Lee Blakely said: “I’m very disappointed with the performance and defensively as a unit that’s the worst we have played this season.

“We had a game plan and knew how they would play and defensively we just did not carry out what was expected.

“Footballing-wise I thought we played some good stuff but defensively it was so poor and it doesn’t matter how well you play, if you’re not right defensively you will get punished.”