As the halfway point of the season arrived Beauy needed to keep in contact with the leaders in a tightly fought tussle at the top of State League One.
Mornington is a traditional powerhouse of the competition with significant backing trying to fulfil their goal of an NPL spot.
The conditions were perfect for the game on a still cloudy day, and Beauy started a little tentatively being on the back foot as the home side dominated possession during the first 15 minutes. As the game wore on the Beauy boys began to gain more possession and skipper, Jessie Kewley-Graham should possibly have done better from a far-post header after a delightful cross from Ryan Brown.
Just on the half-hour mark a free-kick into the box from Gideon Sweet caused confusion for the home defence and despite the man-mountain keeper trying to save, the ball bobbled around before striker, Johnny Creamer left-footed into the net to deflate the home support.
As the half came to a close, Beauy were again pressing forward, but after Brown was unceremoniously brought down, a brain fade from the skipper saw him remonstrate a little too forcibly with the offending defender, which following on from a yellow card earlier for dissent, meant a second yellow (2 x Y = R) and Beauy down to 10 men with 50 minutes to play!
The first minutes of the second half saw Beauy under the pump as the home side moved the ball around cleverly, although the final ball was predictable. The watching away support were concerned if we could successfully defend for 45 minutes……. General view-No!
The visitors gradually got a better foothold despite being a man down and , with watching Kewley-Graham understandably anxious, began to have some good moments. Outstanding defensive efforts from the whole team, saw time tick by and Mornington still unable to force any real concern for keeper, Jarrod Hill. Could we keep the score to 1-0?
Then a great run by Brown saw him skip past the home defence and with a couple of minutes left he scored in the corner !! He got away again just a couple of minutes later and his cross into the box saw sub Felix Polster brought down and a spot-kick for Beauy.
Cue more drama as the Beauy record is not great on penalties this season. Step forward Gideon Sweet……. no problem at all! Ball swept into the right corner and 3-0 away win!
Outstanding effort from the whole squad... and watching captain, JKG, was a very relieved man at the end.
Reserves had an excellent win 3-1 also against a strong Mornington side.
Next week away at Malvern City.
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