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

TEVERSAL  3  -  3  AFC EMLEY Prepared by Kevin Newton

TEVERSAL - Wilson, Holmes (Hauton 57), Lyall, Giles, Short G., Scott, Tighe (Armstrong 27), Hudson, Short D., Woodcock, Townroe, Subs Not Used – Rathbone.

AFC EMLEY - Green, Higginbottom, Cliffe, Battye, Hazelden S., Robinson, Joice (Leech 75), Townsend, Hill, Kenworthy (Laud 80), Hawthorne Subs Not Used – Hazelden N.

REFEREE - Mr A. Gabbitas from Chilwell.

MAN OF MATCH - Teversal – Jamie Hudson, AFC Emley – Kyle Hawthorne

ATTENDANCE - 63

"YET AGAIN AND AGAIN - IT'S A DRAW!" On Tuesday night (18-03-08) Teversal entertained Hall Road Rangers in the first leg of the Wilkinson Sword Final and gained a creditable 1-1 draw in a game that Danny Tighe gave the host a 32nd minute deserved lead to take into the half time break. Hall Road came back into the game and also deserved the equaliser that came in similar fashion to Teversal’s, with Dave Ingram scoring the goal that gives the Hull side a slight advantage going into the second leg with the away goal rule counting in this tie. So on to Saturday, when AFC Emley visited Carnarvon Street to produce another entertaining encounter that again ended up all square with a 3-3 score-line, Teversal’s 8th draw out of the last 14 games.  The tempo was set from the off in this one and Teversal took a well earned lead when Marc Scott picked up the ball 20 yards from goal to calmly take a touch before drilling a low drive past Green in the visitors goal to put the Tevie Boys 1-0 up. Credit to Emley they fought back into the game and only 2 minutes later Tighe cleared of the Teversal line when Battye’s headed effort from a well worked corner looked destined to level the scores. On 9 minutes though the scores were level, when Hill and Kenworthy pressured the home defence before the latter found Hawthorne to produce a stunning strike to make it 1-1. With the strong wind truly in their sails, Emley pushed to gain the advantage with Kenworthy breaking clear only to be denied by an excellent Wilson save and then a timely challenge from Giles, with the Emley striker claiming an unjust penalty. Kenworthy did manage to gain a spot kick though on 22 minutes, when after tussling with Giles outside of the box, the striker went down in the box just like the 18 yard box line was like a trip wire, but the Referee assisted by his Assistant gave the spot kick, Hawthorne thumped home the effort despite the valiant effort of Wilson to make it 2-1. Five minutes later, Emley must have thought they had gone some way to all three points, when Gav Short and Holmes failed to deal with a cross and Townsend seized on the uncertainty to fire past the stranded Wilson to make it a deserved 3-1 lead.  Credit to the Tevie boys for showing some character, especially after they could have easily let their heads drop and think it’s not going to be their day when Holmes fired a powerful free kick that had Green beat all ends up, but the upright prevented the effort resting in the net. On 40 minutes though the Home side received some reward for the effort when Green failed to hold onto Dean Shorts effort with Hudson on hand to tap home the loose ball to make it 3-2 at the break. The second half saw Teversal have the lion’s share of the play with the wind at their backs to reverse the trend of the first period, but that bit of luck you need to win games continues to desert them, especially when you see Jack Townroe produce a quality strike from 25 yards out that again had Green well beaten, but again the bar came to the Emley Custodian’s rescue before his defenders scrambled it to safety. However some justice was gained when Lyall’s corner was flicked on by Armstrong with Hudson ghosting in to head home his second to make it 3-3 with 20 minutes remaining. In the remainder of the game it was only the home side that looked like forcing the winner, but Hawthorne looked a constant threat on the break for the visitors, but a draw was to be the destined outcome, a fair result over the 90 minutes, after both sides made the most of their period of dominances. Teversal’s next game is a trip to Bridlington to face Scarborough Athletic on Saturday 29-03-08, 3.00pm kick off. Then on Wednesday 2nd April 2008 a massive trip to Hull for the Second Leg of the Wilkinson Sword Trophy Final against Hall Road Rangers, kick off 7.45pm. There is a coach going to both games leaving Carnarvon Street for a small charge of £5.00 return, anyone interested to contact Kev Newton on 07711 358060 for further details.