Looking Back at 2010: Hodgsons FC

Hodgsons FC will end 2010 flying high as they top the Humber Premier League Division 1.

The Tanners started 2010 after a long lay-off when their pitch at the Beverley Leisure Centre became unplayable. Hodgsons did not play their first game until January 30th when they entertained Goole Office losing 2 – 4.

By the end February Hodgsons had recovered. They progressed to the semi-finals of the East Riding Senior County Cup beating Filey Town. In the league they started to rediscover their form with the highlight being a 3 -1 win over Beverley Town Reserves.

At the end of March Hodgsons FC were top of the table as they beat Holme Rovers, Howden Amateurs, Easington United and Viking Raiders. The Tanners ended March 2010 with back-to-back defeats though, losing 2- 0 to Beverley Town Reserves in the league and getting knocked out of the cup by Mill Lane United.

April saw the Tanners once again fighting back. Danny Cartwright was in the goals, his brace away to Sculcoates Amateurs earning the Beverley side all three points. Adam Foster was scoring for fun in April and a late winner kept the double dreams alive while he scored a hattrick against Reckitts in the league.

Hodgsons FC were crowned Champions in May 2010 as they beat North Cave Reserves 7 – 1. Later in the month they faced Riccall United in East Riding Senior Cup. The match was the final appearance in Hodgsons FC shirt for goalkeeper Matt Dexter though there was no fairy tale ending as United won 3 – 0.

During June and July Hodgsons FC, under the guidance of Lee Hastings, relocated from Beverley Leisure Centre to Longcroft School. The club started a second team, Hodgsons FC Reserves, who now play at the Beverley Leisure Centre.

The team were back on the field in August, the first team beating Ricketts Reserves in the Champions Cup while the reserves dealt out a comprehensive victory in their first game beating the Humber Colts 3 – 1. Hodgsons FC finished August with a win beating North Ferriby Athletic 6 – 4.

The reserves got September off to a winning start as they beat the Barrel Walkington 2 -1. The Tanners first team meanwhile went on their own winning streak as they beat Scarborough Athletic, Kingburn FC and Howden FC ending September top of the table.

Picture: Danny Piwinski who scored his first ever hattrick for Hodgsons FC

October presented Hodgsons FC with chance to displace Beverley Town FC as ‘best club’ in Beverley when the sides met in the cup. The Tanners fell short, beaten by a late strike by Michael O’Connell. The month ended on a high with wins against East Riding Rangers and a Danny Piwinski hattrick at Brandesburton.

It was the ‘Perfect 10’ in November for Hodgsons FC as they beat Long Riston 6- 0 with Jordan Dexter making it eleven wins in a row as he scored twice in 2 – 0 win away to Withernsea. The winning streak ended in the final fixture for November as they were beaten 4 – 3 at home by Bransholme Athletic.

With just the one fixture in December, Hodgsons FC consolidated their place at the top table with a 9 – 3 win over Withernsea. Currently 9 points clear the Tanners will surely be looking at 2011 to be the year they are promoted to the Humber Premier League.