Hallam FC increased their winning streak to six following dominant 7-0 win over Beverley Town, who started the day 2 places and one point ahead of the home side.

Rio Allen claimed a second hattrick in as many games on an afternoon which saw the Countrymen move to second in the table.

Hallam set the tone for the game early on, with Allen getting his first of the game in just six minutes. Good play from the winger on the right side resulted in him cutting inside and playing James Cadman in, who cut it back to Danny South in the middle, playing wildly out of position up front in this fixture. With his back to goal, he laid it off to Allen who coolly slotted it home into the bottom left corner.

A deep free kick from the left created Hallam’s second, with Jack Brownell’s pass finding its way to Brodie Litchfield in the area to prod home.

It soon got even worse for the already frustrated Beverley fans, going down to ten men following a poor last man tackle on Litchfield by Luke Sellers.

Beverley started the second half promisingly with a good save by Jonathan Dash after Brandon Bradbury was given a free header in the middle of the box, but Hallam soon got their third of the afternoon through Rio Allen’s second. Another ball forwards by Brownell forced the keeper to sprint out his area, Cadman rounded him and found an unmarked Allen in the box, whose control and finish all but put this game to bed in just 53 minutes.

Just three minutes later and Allen had completed his hattrick, thanks to a defensive mix up. The winger sent the keeper the wrong way and claimed his second hattrick in as many games, and his 11th goal in his last five matches.

Just after forcing a save out of the Beverley goalkeeper, substitute Leon Howarth took his chance to make it five. A long throw from Alfie Smith was met in the air by South, who knocked it down for Howarth to poke home and extend Hallam’s already impressive lead.

Once again, Hallam got two quick goals, with captain Danny South claiming his third assist of the game. A Hallam corner made its way to the back post for South to meet in the air once again, a sight that was seen all game by the 500 in Sandygate. His goalwards header was intercepted by Brandon Bradbury who headed home from a matter of yards away just two minutes after their previous goal.

The seventh and final goal of the game went to Howarth for his second, effortless guiding a cross from fellow substitute Calum Ward, after waiting patiently to get it in the box, into the bottom right corner.

7-0 was the final score line, although manager Craig Denton said it could “easily have been eight, nine and ten” if it wasn’t for their goalkeeper making some “really good saves”.

Speaking after the game, Denton was rightfully “really pleased” with his team’s performance.

“I didn’t see it coming” Denton said.

“We expected a really tough test (and our lads) really stood up to that test”.

Hallam are now ten points behind Silsden AFC in first, and play Bottesford Town next, who currently sit in 14th.

Match Report – Lucas Daft

Photography – Peter Willis Peter Wall (@pedrorock_photography) • Instagram photos and videos

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