BEVERLEY TOWN 0 - 2 POCKLINGTON TOWN (aet)

23 Mar 2013

Beverley Town	0
Pocklington Town	2

MARSHAL TYRES sponsored Pocklington overcame the conditions and an excellent Beverley Town team last Saturday to qualify for the Humber league cup (sponsored by Whiteheads Fish & Chips) semi final although it needed extra time on a strength sapping, freezing cold afternoon for Pock to overcome the current Humber Premier division leaders in an enthralling encounter.

As you would expect from a team who have yet to be defeated in 21 league games this season, Beverley made the better start and settled quicker into their game plan with their right back in particular exploiting Pocks narrow midfield three to attack down the wing. Pock keeper Carl Silburn was called into action in the 21st minute when he showed good hands from a long range shot. Ben Alport showed a lack of composure when clean through on goal 2 minutes later, taking his shot early but well wide of the mark after hard work from Andy Anderson and Nathan Hind had created the chance.

With both sides struggling to deal with the snowy, bumpy conditions, Beverley were next to threaten with a counter attack on the half hour from a misplaced Pock pass, Silburn again coming to Pocks rescue with a good save for a corner. This led to a spell of pressure on the visitors goal with saving tackles from Stu Lawson and James Saltmer blocking goal bound efforts away and with Rob Gibson, Tom Rogers and Kev Goodwin excelling in central midfield Pock finished the half well as it ended all square after 45.

Pock continued to work hard and it was a credit to the whole teams attitude on the day that the work rate from everyone was phenomenal, with full backs Saltmer and Craig Hargreaves in particular managing to get forward to attack as well as work back to deny space on the wings. Silburn made another excellent parry from a cross shot as Beverley peppered the Pock goal at the start of the second half but gradually, Pock worked themselves back into the game and from a goal mouth scramble on the hour, Goodwin unluckily hit the post from 6 yards for a big let off for the home side. Saltmer set up Alport for another chance but his chip sailed narrowly wide on 62 minutes as it became Pock's turn to pen Beverley back.

When Rogers was penalised on 73 minutes, it gave Beverley a free kick in a great position and although the wall blocked the first effort, the rebound fell straight back for a volley through a crowd of players and looked destined for the bottom left corner until Silburn made the save of the game, brilliantly tipping it away for a corner. With Beverley having made all of their subs, they went down to 10 men on 80 minutes when an injury forced another player off and Pock looked to press home their advantage when Rogers played Nathan Hind in for a chance. The home side blocked it off the line as it became their turn to be forced back and on 90 minutes, Adam Nicholson in the Beverley goal made a great save of his own when Alport was played through by Pock sub Tom Reay, making a brilliant block for a corner to take the game into extra time.

The first 15 minutes saw both sides going for it but effectively cancelling each other out as the crowd witnessed an enthralling contest despite the atrocious weather conditions. Half chances came and went with neither side managing to create anything clear cut as defences held sway but the momentum shifted on 112 minutes when a pin point pass from Saltmer split the Beverley defence to play Tom Reay in behind the left back. His sweetly struck finish flew into the back of the net to put Pock ahead and despite weathering a late spell of Beverley pressure, Pock made it 2-0 on 119 minutes when a counter attack saw Hind put clear after good passing between James Haigh and Alport, capped off with great vision from Reay to release the final ball. There was still plenty to do but "Hindy" let rip with a sweet right foot cross shot that ensured that despite a great effort and a lot of hard work by the Beverley staff to get the game on in the snow, the home were to come up just short on the day.

Credit is due to the fantastic spirit that the game was played in by both teams, helped by a consistent and highly proficient refereeing performance from all the officials. Pock can take a lot of heart from beating a team that has done the league double on them this season but now take on another familiar foe, Reckitts FC in the semi final at Bishop Burton on Tuesday 2nd of April (KO 7.30 pm). With Pock having a free Saturday this coming Easter weekend, they will be looking to do something else that they have been unable to do so far this season and beat a team that has also defeated them twice in this campaign.

Richard Bower

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Category: York & District Division 1

Tags: Cup MatchYork & District Division 1Senior TeamsSeason 2012/13Richard Bower