Driffield JFC 0-6 Beverley Town

Another emphatic victory for Beverley this weekend maintained their two point lead at the top of the table as they romped to a 6-0 victory in the sunshine of Driffield JFC’s Allotment Lane ground. This gives Beverley a record of just under five goals a game since the restart of the Humber Premier League season, showing the rich goal-scoring form that the side are in.

Both teams started off strong, Driffield had an early call for a penalty when their attacking player was barged into in the area but the official waved away any calls for a foul and play resumed. The scoring would open soon after, Olly Baldwin picking up the ball on the right wing, dribbling down to the edge of the box to curl the ball into the bottom corner.

Beverley would continue this dominance throughout the first half. Having a repeated number of chances in the box, resulting in doubling their lead in the 23rd minute when Baldwin would pick the ball up on the D from Danny Norton, calmly slotting it past the keeper to get his second.

The first half would continue to be comfortable for Town with a number of chances being made through Danny Norton and Will Waudby but the elusive third goal would continue to evade Beverley until the 41st minute when a in swinging corner bounced in the box, a number of players attempted to hit it into the net with it being repeatedly deflected off the line until the ball fell to the returning Stu Oliver would get the deciding shot off and make it 3-0 going into the break for the league leaders.

Near the end of the first half though, Driffield’s keeper had to be rushed off and replaced by an outfield player making an already difficult task seem now impossible for the home side.

Town would start the second half as they ended the first, Olly Baldwin achieving his hattrick in the opening five minutes of the half. Will Waudby cutting the defence open to find the pacy winger who rounded the replacement goalkeeper to make it 4-0 to the away side.

The power balance in the game would shift as the game progressed however with the introduction of Aston Harrison, bringing a calm creativity to Driffield’s game to link up with experienced heads like Wayne Brooksby to make the trailing side more dangerous. Driffield would win a number of set pieces in dangerous positions but none would find the target but even with a four goal lead it was beginning to look like a nervous tie going into the final half hour.

Driffield would continue to keep the ball and get shots off but Beverley’s shooting boots would return near the final fifteen minutes, the introduction of Adam Bowes would uplift the squad in the final third. Waudby swung a corner in at the farpost where Bowes toeppoked it in for 5 and Danny Norton would get the goal he’d been searching for all game with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after a deflected shot from OIly Baldwin.

Overall, a great performance from the squad 1-11 as Beverley continue to fight for the title. Westella’s win away to Reckitts keeps the gap to second at 2 points but with the two sides facing each other next Saturday at Hilltop, it’s looking like the title may be decided before the final day depending on how the fixtures go midweek with Beverley’s next game against Chalk Lane back at Norwood on Wednesday with a 18:30 kick off.

Beverley Line Up: Adam Nicholson, Ry Holmes, Dean Larvin (Ryan McAllister), Nathan White (Joe Norton), Zak Oakshott, Kurt Bedford, Olly Baldwin, Will Waudby, Danny Norton, Mike O’Connell, Stu Oliver (Adam Bowes)

Att: 70

Match Report: Riley Somerville