Humber Premier League champions Beverley Town travelled to Bishop Burton to take on Westella in the second round of the East Riding Senior Cup.
Although Westella have been struggling this season, Town knew that league form was irrelevant in a cup game and that they needed to be at full tilt to achieve a positive outcome.
Town once again made some changes with Asa Pardoe, Danny Norton, Adam Nicholson and Mike O’Connell returning from the previous week. There was also a first start for 16-year-old Matty Start, who was hoping to impress in the absence of Rob Northen and Jamie Waltham.
Town started extremely brightly and were ahead within two minutes when Start pounced on a rebound to smash home from close range. Within just five minutes of this it was two when Norton finished confidently from 12 yards.
Beverley were now totally in control and keeping the ball at will. It was Start who grabbed his 2nd of the game pouncing on a defensive lapse to slide home.
Westella just could not cope physically with the pace and aggression of the league champions, with Goalkeeper Nicholson virtually a spectator.
Start then completed a first half hat-trick, when a hopeful ball out of the defence by Pardoe, was completely misjudged by the Willerby back line, allowing the diminutive striker to nip in and lob the keeper with the outside of his right foot, for an exquisite finish.
Town came out in the second half knowing that they needed to keep the tempo high and not fall into the trap of the previous week at Bridlington, when they failed to capitalise after a totally dominating the first period.
Three changes were made by Manager Dave Ricardo, with Dane Mortimer replacing Mike Dixon, Ben Thomson coming on for Nathan White, who is slowly regaining form and fitness, and one final change was 16-year-old Declan Corlyon making his debut at centre back in place of Pardoe.
Declan is the son of former Beverley player Gary Corlyon, and is another product of the conveyor belt of young players coming through. Credit must go to Ricardo for having the belief in young players and giving them the opportunity to express themselves.
Again Town were out of the blocks at pace and Andrew Stott made it five with a good finish. It became six when Start notched his fourth of the game with a sharp turn and finish.
Stott claimed his second and third in quick succession to complete his second hat-trick of the season and to take his total to eleven. Norton then got his second of the game; Stott and Norton in particular were in outstanding form with their directness and dribbling skills.
Westella showed a good attitude to keep going and they grabbed a consolation goal when a ball over the top of the Beverley defence, should really have been dealt with, this gave the home team striker the opportunity to steal in and poke the ball past Nicholson.
The scoring wasn’t over though and captain O’Connell drove in the 10th and final goal of the day from the edge of the box.
This was an excellent display from Town, who were pretty relentless, although be it against far inferior opponents. Town know there are much stiffer challenges ahead especially at the end of November and running into the Christmas period.
Manager Dave Ricardo said after the game;
“I was really impressed with the attitude and application on Saturday.”
“I asked the lads to be positive and move forward with purpose which they did time and again.”
“The test is can we play with that quality against the teams at the top of the table, I believe we can.”
Beverley now progress into the last eight, where they could possibly meet a host of big clubs, including Hull City and North Ferriby.
