The eagerly awaited clash of the Beverley titans saw the return of captain Will Collingwood after a long period of injury. He is battling to get back to fitness after breaking his arm and he managed a fine performance. The game was played in front of a large crowd and was a great advert for football in Beverley.
After the minute’s silence of remembrance, Mohicans kicked off and went straight on to the attack. Good play by Callum Ward and Sam Tuft forced the Warriors to give away a corner but it came to nothing. Next Mohicans attacked down the right with Harry Stanforth and Will Collingwood resulting in a corner. This was taken by Harry Stanforth who put in a superb ball for Steve Heath to volley home and give the perfect start to Mohicans.
Warriors chased and harried and played some good passing football and when it looked as if they had broken through, a brilliantly timed challenge by Dan Naldrett prevented a shot from six yards out. From this Mohicans played a neat move when Callum Ward headed on to Steve Heath, who in turn headed on to Jamie Spence. He held off a couple of challenges before firing a great shot into the back of the net.
Mohicans continued to press and when Callum Ward had a fantastic strike from outside the penalty area it looked certain to be 3-0. However Warriors’ keeper pulled off a magnificent save. At half time, and Mohicans 2-0, the lads were well in control of a hard fought match.
In the first minute of the second half Warriors neatly played the ball around and only a goal line clearance by Greg Whyley and then a brave save by Charlie Brooks prevented a goal. However, Warriors did pull a goal back after three minutes. They were playing with assurance but came up against very resolute Louie Kelly, Greg Whyley, Harry Stanforth and Will Woods in the Mohicans’ defence.
The uncompromising Dan Naldrett broke up several attacks while Sam Tuft, Will Collingwood and Marc O’Hare were up and down the wings causing all sorts of problems. Marc O’Hare took on a couple of defenders before laying the ball to Oliver Morrison. He swung a high looping cross into the Warriors’ box. It swerved and dipped just enough to clear their keeper and go under the bar for a super finish.
Both sides continued to play some great football with defences clearing well, Keiran Simpson for Warriors and Greg Whyley and Louie Kelly for Mohicans were prominent. On thirty minutes Mohicans wrapped up the game when Callum Ward won a couple of strong challenges and then struck an unstoppable shot to make it 4-1.
It could have been five when Jamie Spence took on several defenders in the box before eventually being brought down, unfortunately the penalty was missed but it did not distract from a brilliant result for the Mohicans. Bragging rights well earned by the lads, and man of the match went to Dan Naldrett for his sound defensive display and intelligent use of the ball going forward.
Beverley Town Warriors 1 Beverley Town Mohicans 4
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