Beverley Town Wanderers won the first, then lost the second game in two matches of few clear-cut chances.
GAME 1 – The Beverley outfit started well, dictating the midfield battles and limiting the Cottingham Rangers chances with excellent defensive duties from Mark Hudson and Ethan Jacobsen. Midway through the first half a quality precision ball by Thomas Smith was met by a sliding Jacob Hodgson as he bravely toe-poked the ball under the advancing Cottingham keeper to take the lead. Safe hands by the excellent Wanderers keeper Billy Spruyt was the difference as the half ended 1-0.
The second half saw the Wanderers again dominate proceedings as Mitch Bellotti was causing many problems for the Scorpions with his superb long throw-ins. Midway through the half, Bailey Young battled to win a loose ball in the midfield, and released Smith, who confidently spread the ball across to the left, finding Ethan Jacobsen on the overlap who duly dispatched his effort low and hard into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to take a 2-0 advantage.
Cottingham pressed to pull a goal back and were unlucky not to score when a strike hit both posts and was scrambled to safety by Harry Armstrong. With seconds remaining, the outstanding Bailey Young exchanged passes with Henry Green just inside his own half, ran down the right, out-muscled a Cottingham defender, and drove a teasing cross across the face of the goal, finding Smith who glanced a strike inches wide; an awesome effort.The game then ended for a 2-0 Wanderers victory.
GAME 2 – The Wanderers buoyed from the earlier victory, looked lively in the opening minutes as Green latched onto a fine Danny Prescott pass, and his right-wing run and strike just went wide hitting the side netting. Cottingham then took the lead as the tempo of the game was swinging in favour of the Scorpions. Half time 0-1.
The second half saw the Wanderers restricted by a well organised Cottingham team, but full credit going to Armstrong and Prescott, who battled hard throughout in the midfield. Young was giving it his all as he tried to drive his team forward for an equaliser with some pulsating runs, as Cottingham held on to share the points 0-1.
Man of the match went to Bailey Young for a driven and compelling performance full of strength and determination.
Match report by Karl Jacobsen.
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