Beverley played their first game for two weeks, travelling to Hessle, who they defeated 3 – 0 a fortnight ago in the Humber Premier League.
Town welcomed back Danny Norton; Nathan White made his first start of the season and captain Jonny Ricardo returned in place of Asa Pardoe, who was on holiday.
On a tight pitch with space limited the game started rather franticly with neither side really creating opportunities.
The away team had the first real chance when Andy Stott coming in from the left-hand side should have done a little better, but ran out of space as the ball ran tamely out.
Town were now starting to dominate, restricting Hessle to long range efforts which goalkeeper Adam Nicholson was dealing with comfortably.
They took the lead in the 30th minute when a free kick from Mike O’Connell was cleared back to him; he steadied himself and made an angle, to curl an exquisite ball to the far post for Dane Mortimer, who came in to nod in his first goal of the season.
Beverley were now in control, with Norton looking particularly threatening down the right-hand side, and it was totally out of the blue, when a few minutes later Hessle equalised. The ball was nodded on by the centre forward for Lee Gardiner, who broke into the penalty area on the blind side of White. He pulled back the midfielder to concede a blatant penalty.
The referee issued a yellow card to White; this was a fortunate let of for Town, as it could be argued it was a red card offence. The penalty was scored by Hessle, meaning this was the first goal that Beverley have conceded all season.
All credit to the league champions who are made of stern stuff these days, as within 5 minutes of this, the outstanding Norton, jinked his way into the penalty box, cut back onto his left foot and dispatched his shot into the roof of the net.
Town made a change at half-time with Dan Kingsley replacing Stott. They were now in complete control now and keeping possession very well. It was Kingsley who should have increased the lead when put through by O’Connell, but his shot was well saved by goalkeeper Tom Briggs.
Beverley were playing some good football now down both sides of the pitch, and from a corner, a looping header from Ricardo (J) was cleared of the line.
Beverley Town made a couple of substitutions as the half wore on with youngster Danny Earle replacing Craig Murihead, and player manager Dave Ricardo coming on for White.
As they pushed for the third and decisive goal, this came when full back James Whittingham, who has been outstanding this season, drove into the box and chested the ball down, from the angle, he drilled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner for his first goal of this and all of last season.
It should really have been four when Jamie Waltham, who had led the line well, rolled his opposing centre-back but pulled his shot wide.
Beverley has taken six points of Hessle, who are potentially tricky opponents with a real togetherness as a team.
Town now has some respite from the league when they travel to Bridlington Sports Club in the Whiteheads Fish & Chip League Cup. Manager Dave Ricardo may take this opportunity to look at different formations, and give some players an opportunity to press for a starting place with an extremely competitive squad at his disposal.
Final Score: Hessle Rangers 1 Beverley Town 3 | Report by Steve Mulligan
