A strong squad from Beverley Town Football Club made up of reserve and academy team players were beaten 5-0 by West Hull Amateurs.
Academy manager Rich Jagger was keen to use the opportunity to look at players in different positions and find out more about strengths and weaknesses of his squad.
In red hot conditions West Hull made the perfect start going one nil up in the first five minutes, with Town failing to deal with the threat from a corner.
This unfortunately set a theme for the first half, with Town struggling to cope with the attacking threat down both flanks, and West Hull putting some quality balls into the box.
A further two goals were added without reply in the first half. Town had the better of the possession, created some chances of their own, and felt a little hard done by to go in at 3-0 down at half time.
At half time Jagger made five changes, including bringing on debutant Danny Dawes to play up front with Mike Martin.
Town started the second half brightly, with Dawes and Martin causing problems for the West Hull defence, and young Ollie Harrison looking comfortable at left back.
Despite some good patterns of play Town were undone by a move down the flank again that resulted in a fourth goal for West Hull.
Credit to the young Town side who kept trying to play football, and could easily have grabbed a goal when Dawes intercepted a back pass but couldn’t finish past the West Hull keeper.
As the game came to an end West Hull netted a fifth with a well taken free kick that Cotton had no chance of saving.
Despite the result, Jagger learnt a great deal about his players, he said;
“The conditions were difficult and I thought we showed some good signs in possession of the ball.”
“I was pleased with the two lads that came on at half time up front, Dawes and Martin, looked a threat and could form a good partnership for the season.”
“However we will look to improve when we don’t have the ball. As a team we were a bit naive defensively, this gives us something to work on for the rest of pre season.”
“This team is learning all the time and overall I’m pleased with the progress they are making.”
Next friendly is at Leconfield on Wednesday 26th August v Middleton Rovers, 6.15PM KO
