After 4 weeks without a fixture, mainly due to the adverse weather conditions, Beverley went into a tricky home game against Crown, who were having a very good season themselves and were currently sitting in fourth place.
Beverley Town had the luxury of pricking from virtually a fully fit squad, apart from player-manager Dave Ricardo, who was serving a one match ban.
On a very heavy pitch, it was the away team that started the brighter with Beverley finding it difficult to get a foot hold in the game. Eventually, Town started to impose themselves and were looking threatening down the right hand side with Ryan Nicholls and Luke Thompson combining well.
In the 25th-minute, Beverley nearly took the lead when a corner from Mike O’Connell was well met by Captain Jon Ricardo, but the away team goalkeeper made an outstanding save to claw the ball out from near the post.
Beverley Town were beginning to put the pressure on, well led by Nathan White who was providing the impetus from the middle of midfield. It was from a break down the right once again where Nicholls got into the box squared the ball back to Richard Gibson, Gibson seemed to be bundled over in the box, but the referee deemed this to be a fair challenge.
With 5 minutes to go before half-time, the home team took the lead, when a quick throw in once again down the right was played to the feet of Gibson, with sublime footwork, he turned his marker and curled an exquisite finish into the bottom right-hand corner, to put Beverley a goal up.
Within a minute of taking the lead Crown thought they had equalised when a ball into the box, was finished well at the back post, fortunately for Town the assistant referee’s flag came to their rescue as the goal was ruled out for offside.
The home side came out in the second half a little brighter and started to move the ball quicker, having a slight breeze behind them.
Daniel Kinsley replaced the hard-working Matt Dixon, and he started to have an impact straight away with his pace causing problems for the Crown defence.
Town doubled their lead when a good ball into the feet of Thompson, led to him being impeded on the edge of the box. The same player got to his feet and struck a powerful free kick into the corner of the net, for his 6th goal of the season. This is just reward for the player as he is constantly an attacking threat in every game he plays.
Unfortunately, Beverley could not hold onto to the two-goal cushion, when Asa Pardoe was dubiously judged to have handled the ball on the edge of his own box.
Ricky Hunter strode up and curled an excellent free-kick past the stranded Adam Nicholson that up to this point had had little to do.
The home team started to press once again to extend their advantage; O’Connell drove into the box and was brought down, giving Town an opportunity to regain their two-goal advantage. Thompson stepped up, but this time dragged his penalty wide of the left hand post.
As the game came into the closing moments, Beverley were pretty comfortable and managed to secure all three points, when a short corner was worked between White and substitute Danny Norton, he floated a cross into the box, which was met by centre-back Pardoe to volley home from 10 yards.
So Town took all 3 points to cement their position at the top of the Humber Premier League. This gives them great confidence going into their most prestigious game of the season in the East Riding Senior Cup against North East Counties side Bridlington Town.
Bridlington currently sit in 3rd place within the North East Counties Premier division and are the current holders of the cup. This will be a stern test for Beverley and give them opportunity to challenge themselves against a team with a rich history, and who play two leagues above Beverley in the football pyramid.
The game kicks off at 2pm at Norwood Park. The club would like to encourage all Beverley football supporters to come and see the game, and support your local club.
Beverley Town would like to thank N.J.W joinery for sponsoring the Crown game, and also the sponsorship of the Bridlington Town game too.
Next Week’s fixture 2pm Norwood Recreation Ground Beverley Town vs. Bridlington Town 1sts
Reported by Steve Mulligan
