Hull United lost 1-0 to Teversal in the Toolstation NCEL League Cup
A lacklustre Hull United performance has seen them crash out of the Toolstation NCEL League Cup with a 1-0 defeat at Teversal.
The Citizens never managed to get to grips with Teversal’s commitment and desire as they fell to Jason Dawson’s first half header as the hosts ventured past the first round of the competition since 2012.
Hull’s best chance fell to Jamie Richardson on 69 minutes after Brett Agnew’s deftly headed knock down was sent wide with the goal at Richardson’s mercy
The hosts to their credit worked tirelessly when not in possession throughout the contest and didn’t afford Curtis Woodhouse’s NCEL newcomers any time to settle on the ball.
Even inside the opening ten minutes the hosts dominated as captain Paul Staniforth rattled the angle of post and crossbar with a rasping free-kick whilst his central defensive partner Luke Fisher acrobatically scooped over from inside the area.
It wasn’t until the 11th minute when Hull United made any in-roads.
Martin Foster sent a pass down the left hand channel which saw Jamie Richardson nip in to tap the ball past the lunging keeper Dale Sheppard but from a tight angle the striker could only blaze over the crossbar.
Shane Hill then smashed a volley wide after Ben Kinsley’s corner was cleared at the near post only for the ball to drop to Hill on the edge of the area but his effort flashed wide.
The monstrous long kick of home keeper Sheppard and the strength of striker David Cockerill began to cause problems for the United defence. From a throw-in Cockerill chested the ball down and hammered a powerful effort on the rise just wide.
The decisive moment in the match though did come on 32 minutes when Dawson met a centre from the right hand flank to nonchalantly nod past a rooted Phil Dobson.
Teversal ended the half in the ascendancy with Cockerill testing Phil Dobson with a low effort whilst the 6 foot 7 keeper had to also be alert to tip a goal ward cross from full-back Vince Blake over the cross bar three minutes before the break
Woodhouse, clearly agitated by his side’s showing in the first half made a double switch during the break with Hill and Josh Tennant been replaced by James Playford and Brett Agnew before six minutes into the start of the second half Matty Start, who bagged two goals in Selby’s 3-1 win over Louth at this stage in the competition last season replaced Tom Bennett.
The pace of Start appeared to cause early issues as he latched onto an Agnew flick on but Start failed to show any real composure and rolled his effort wide when through on goal.
Cockerill then threatened to double Teversal’s advantage as his darting inside run met a cross with a header which grazed the crossbar.
United’s best chance then fell to Richardson who failed to convert from Agnew’s clever knock down before Brad Cox missed a golden chance with two minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt. Cox at the back post failed to control a driven cross from the left and unmarked spurned his side’s best chance to double the lead from inside six yards.
Hull United manager Curtis Woodhouse:
“We were poor tonight and I’m really disappointed. We made six changes and I’ve found out plenty of answers tonight.
“There won’t be too many complaints on Saturday when some of these get left out.
“I don’t mind losing games of football but when you get outfought against a side that wants it more, it leaves a bad taste.
“The beauty of football though is it’s a 55 game season so I’m looking for a response, not just on Saturday but at training later in the week.”
Teversal: Sheppard, Coupe, Blake, Fisher, Staniforth, Atkins, McCann, Sargent, Dawson, Cockerill, Cox. Subs: Jathu, Short, Holmes, Radford, Barke.
Hull United: Dobson, Tramner, Kinsley, McNamara, Taylor, Piercy, Bennett, Foster, Tennant, Richardson, Hill. Subs: Atkinson, Start, Playford, Agnew, Harrison.
Thanks to Neil Winsor from Hull United for this report. You can submit reports and team-lists to Non League Yorkshire by emailing info@nonleagueyorkshire.com.