Season 07-08 : Northern Counties East League : Match Report

AFC EMLEY  3  -  3  TEVERSAL Prepared by Kevin Newton

AFC EMLEY - Green, Mann, Cliffe, Battye, Hazelden M., Townsend, Leech, Neesam, Kenworthy (Hill 40), Birmingham (Hazelden N. 67), Laud (Handley 80). Subs Not Used – All Used.

TEVERSAL - Dewberry, Tighe, Lyall, Holmes, Short G., Giles, Carter (Rathbone 67), Scott, Woodcock, Walker (Short D. 81), Townroe (Atkins 44) . Subs Not Used – All Used.

REFEREE - Mr N. Mason from Sheffield.

MAN OF MATCH - AFC Emley – Gavin Birmingham, Teversal – Michael Lyall,

ATTENDANCE - 138

Teversal left Emley’s Welfare Ground disappointed at not picking up all three points in a game that promised to be a footballing spectacle, but the fact the game wasn’t allowed to flow due to needless free kicks really putting a dampener on proceedings. It was the visitors who started the brightest, playing the ball round with some purpose and looking threatening and were rewarded in the second minute when excellent move saw Tighe cross to the unmarked Woodcock who cleverly headed over Green in the home goal to make it 1-0 to the Tevie Boys.  Credit to Emley they didn’t allow this early set back to upset their game plan, so when they pulled level on 19 minutes, that gave them the lift for the game to become more even after the visitors early dominance. The goal would have frustrated the Teversal defence who failed to a clear a free kick with Sean Hazelden seizing on a loose ball that dropped nicely to clinically fire home past the stranded Dewberry making his first start in goal for the senior side after impressing the clubs Under 19’s. The game was swinging from end to end, when not being stopped, and it looked like the level score line at he break would be a fair reflection, but on 44 minutes Teversal lost Jack Townroe though injury, which was a telling factor in the home side taking a half time lead. Emley put the ball out for the left sided player to receive treatment, Teversal gave the ball back to Emley who played the ball into the space vacated by Townroe’s absence to find Birmingham, who calmly finished past the advancing Dewberry. It could have been three but for an excellent save by Dewberry low down at the foot of his post from Birmingham’s powerful header. The second half started with another early goal, this was for the home side when a defensive mix up between Dewberry and Gavin Short allowed Townsend the time and space to clinically fire past the young custodian to make it 3-1. The game looked dead and buried and that Emley was coasting to three points. But Teversal’s never say die attitude came to the front and they immediately started to make in-roads to making a recovery. Lyall was the main source of penetration down the left flank to be a thorn in the home team sides. Firstly delivering a low cross to Walker who failed to make the telling touch, but on 54 minutes one goal was pulled back. Again Lyall started the move before finding Marc Scott who still had plenty to do before firing a low drive that left Green with no chance and preventing the score line becoming 3-2. Teversal were now controlling the game, but Emley still looked a threat on the break. That was until the 66th minute when Battye received his second yellow card and subsequent red, add the fact that Emley subbed Birmingham for the more defensive minded Nathan Hazelden just invited the visitors to dominate the remainder of the game. The impact was immediate, Woodcock and Rathbone combining well to release Walker who lifted effort over Green, but marginally wide of the far post. The equalizer arrived though on 85 minutes when Gavin Short produced an excellent near post cross that Woodcock powerfully headed home to make it 3-3. Emley defended stoutly and for their effort deserved their point, but the visitors were clearly disappointed at only picking a point up and this will be viewed as two points dropped, rather than a point game. Teversal’s next game is a league game at home, when Dinnington Town are the visitors to Carnarvon Street, with a 3.00pm kick off.