KINGS Cliffe manager James Willamont accused his Abbey counterpart Chris Clarke of sour grapes during a heated exchange which followed this bad-tempered clash between two title rivals.

Abbey boss Clarke reacted to this loss by claiming Kings Cliffe used long ball and strong arm tactics to gain a result which closes them to within a single point of their table-topping victims.

But after watching 20-goal marksman Carl Giddings fire his lads to glory with a hat-trick, Cliffe chief Willamont was in no mood to apologise for setting his team up to play to their strengths.

He said: "First of all I would like to say what a fantastic result this was and how well I thought the lads played out there against a good Abbey side.

"But it is a shame that the Abbey staff cannot take defeat gracefully as they accused us of not teaching our lads to play football properly.

"But I will not apologise for playing to our strengths.

"We took a bit of a beating at the start of the season and so have adjusted our tactics to suit our strengths and it is working very well for us.

"We have exceeded all expectations and could even go on to win this division but whatever happens, at least we have taught our boys to win and lose gracefully.

"It is a shame that the Abbey manager cannot do the same - I think it's a case of sour grapes."

Sour or otherwise, Kings Cliffe turned the grapes into fine wine despite finding themselves with their backs to the wall for much of the second half.

With the Red Kites leading 2-0 lead going into half-time thanks to ace finisher Giddings, Abbey fought back to force an own goal before Ryan Pike got them back on terms.

But another ball over the top saw Giddings race in to complete a hat-trick which gave Cliffe victory and left Abbey feeling bitter. about their first league defeat of the season.

Their manager Clarke responded to the setback by pointing out his charges are still sitting pretty in pole position.

Clarke said: "I certainly do not think we deserved to lose as we were the only team trying to play football out there.

"They were just lobbing the ball long all the time.

"They were also very physical which made me think that most of their players should be playing rugby and not football.

"But we lost the game and have to get on with it.

"But if they think they are going to win the league playing like that I would just like to add that we are still top and we intend to stay there."