Clinton’s Eric Bradshaw, #15, goes up high to try and head a first half corner kick past a defender in a dry game earlier this season. Bradshaw scored one of Clinton's two goals against Croatan Monday. (Mike Carter/Special to The Independent)

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Dark Horse goalie Colin Faulkner comes up big with one of several crucial saves during the first half of a game earlier this season. (Mike Carter/Special to The Independent)

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The field was wet, the play, at times sloppy because of it, but the competition was strong and the win decisive as Clinton plowed wet ground in a 2-0 shutout of Croatan.

The Horses, now first in the 2A conference ahead of rival Topsail by 1/2 game, played what coach Brad Spell called good soccer in less-than-perfect conditions as they maneuvered through the soggy field.

“I thought they played well,” Spell said of the Clinton team. “They moved the ball well, the defense was strong in the back and there was great hustle. With the condition on the field, I just thought they did a really good job.”

Spell said while the game was sloppy because of heavy downpours, at the same time he thought the Horses executed well.

“I really can’t complain with the way they played, particularly in this weather. They had a lot of fun with it out there, and they played solid soccer. On top of that, we had a chance to play a lot of guys, which is always good,” Spell said.

Eric Bradshaw and Casey Yang scored Clinton’s two goals on the night.

The win moves the Horses to 11-4-1 overall and 6-0-1 in conference play.

Clinton, now ranked fifth in the state, faces Swansboro Wednesday in a 6:30 p.m. road game.

CHS JV

Clinton’s JV Horses also got a win Monday night in a downpour, defeating Croatan 3-1.