Ten men Beverley Whitestar Athletic dug deep to win a hard fought top of the table encounter with Brandesburton.
Beverley Whitestar fielded a depleted line up due to unavailability and sickness, the team played with only ten fit players throughout the match.
Beverley worked really hard and stamped their authority on the match early on and were unlucky not to get the first goal. Beverley pressed, and corner after corner produced little due to some great defending from Brandes. The home team took the lead as Whitestar were caught on a counter attack.
Whitestar then pushed for the equaliser, Sam Harman had good effort saved, and James Ayre and Liam Sharpley went close. Whitestar’s efforts finally came to fruition when Sam Harman hit a great in swinging corner, Charlie Hewson challenged at the near post and the ball flew into the net without a touch to give a half time score of 1-1.
Brandes came out of the blocks the quicker in the second half and Whitestar began to tire. The Whitestar goal came under siege for long periods, but sterling defending kept Brandes out, in particular by Josh Northern. Callum Williams and Michael Ward both made valuable contributions in defence, while the versatile Charlie Hewson was prominent at right back, pushing up and down and helping the midfield. Sam Harman and Matty James were bright in possession and fought hard. The Brandes pressure finally told and when the Whitestar defence failed to clear, the ball broke loose enabling Brandes to score. Brandes pushed again to try to kill off the game, but Whitestar dug deep and great defending and goalkeeping from Sam Oglesby kept Whitestar in the match.
Whitestar then sprang into action. Charlie Hewson played Liam Sharpley in down the right; he beat his man and crossed to Matty James who fired just wide past the oncoming keeper. Whitestar then realised they could get back into the match. Brandes had no answer to Liam Sharpley down the right and he twisted in and out once more, firing a cross shot from just inside the area which hit the inside of the post enabling the keeper to retrieve safely.
Whitestar were now in the ascendancy and attacked once more from the right, again Liam Sharpley taking on all comers. He then smashed the ball into the top of the net from just inside the area. In a frantic final five minutes Whitestar pushed for the winner. Yet another attack down the right and good combination play from Charlie Hewson and Liam Sharpley produced the goal. Brandes failed to clear a Sharpley cross shot and the ball broke loose to Max Bentham who fired in from near the penalty spot, 3-2 to Whitestar.
Whitestar almost got a fourth when James Ayre fired over from a long range. Whitestar were comfortable in the final two minutes and in the end Brandes could not get out of their half. Whitestar showed great character, determination and resilience and this won the day. The Man of the Match was Sam Harman.
Beverley Whitestar U13 Squad: Sam Ogglesby, Callum Williams, Michael Ward, Charlie Hewson, Josh Northern, Sam Harman, Matty James, Max Bentham, James Ayre, Liam Sharpley.
Final Score: Brandesburton Tigers 2 Beverley Whitestar Athletic 3
