Beverley Town 2-0 Hessle Rangers
Town made it five in a row on a sunny afternoon at Norwood. However the gloss was taken off this win with the sad injury to midfielder Jay Custus who suffered a broken leg mid way through the second half.
Once again manager Dave Walton had to make changes to his team, bringing Sam Overton and Craig Lamplugh back into the side, moving Winston Winn to right back and Jonny Kershaw deputising in goal.
The game started brightly, with both teams attacking at will. It was Hessle who created the first chance of the game, after some neat passing in midfield created space for the midfielder to shoot. The long range effort saw keeper Kershaw scramble to his left, but he couldn’t get near the ball, which rebounded off the post and out to safety. Town then went close themselves when striker Steve Remi chased a ball into the channel, nicked the ball from the defender and lobbed the ball over the keeper but his effort went over the bar. It was Remi who went close again soon after this when young Eddie Birch put him through on goal, and from the right hand corner of the box he fired a shot that only just went wide. Hessle responded in typical attacking fashion, with striker James Leech throwing himself at cross from the right wing. Thankfully for Town his effort glanced off the bar to safety.
Half time 0-0
Both teams came out for the second half full of confidence after a pulsating first 45 minutes. Hessle continued to play quick, attacking football, and Town defenders Rich Jagger and Sam Overton were on top of their game in repelling any danger. Both teams were searching hard for a breakthrough, with town trying to get playmaker Michael O`Connell on the ball as much as possible. Midfield generals Jon Ricardo and Jay Custus were working hard to win possession, and it was a crunching tackle from Custus that caused his horrific injury. The ball ran loose down the right hand side of midfield, and as the Hessle midfielder tried to bring the ball down Jay Custus put in a typically full bloodied tackle. Both players ended up in heap on the floor, but it was soon clear that Custus`s injury was much worse. The game was stopped for 10 minutes whilst an ambulance was called, and ironically to add insult to injury Custus was booked for his tackle.
Matty Dixon came on in place of the injured Custus on 65 minutes, and it was the prolific Dixon that finally broke the deadlock for Town. After a neat move down the right hand side Matty Dixon found himself on the penalty spot with the ball at his feet, he controlled the ball expertly and fired a shot through a sea of defenders and past the hapless keeper. Beverley were now in full control, and on 75 minutes Steve Remi was rewarded for his hard work with a fantastic goal. After a sweeping Beverley attack the ball broke out to Remi on the right hand side of the 18 yard box. With only one thing on his mind Remi Volleyed the ball with pace and accuracy straight into the top left hand corner of the Hessle goal. The keeper had no chance, and the goal was just rewards for a fantastic performance by Steve Remi.
Hessle rallied in the last 10 minutes, but keeper Jonny Kershaw was a rock in Towns goal, making 2 fine saves from direct free kicks.
Full time brought an end to this exciting game, and Town were pleased to chalk up their fifth win on the bounce. They go into next weekends away trip to Hutton Cranswick in the East Riding Senior Cup full of confidence.
