Disputed red and penalty sees Teversal exit FA Vase

Teversal had competed well with their higher league opponents, but the game changed in controversial fashion on 70 minutes.

Desborough were awarded a controversial penalty when Redding put a cross in across the six yard box and both Gormley and Harcourt dived to head the ball and both missed it.

The referee awarded a penalty and produced a red card for Harcourt for alleging to have pushed the Desborough striker.

The Desborough bench couldn’t believe their luck as Byrne made no mistake with the spot kick to take the gift with both hands.

Teversal had started well and were more than matching their hosts.

On 7 minutes a neat passing move from back to front saw Robinson link up with Townsend with the latter picking out Pearson who cut in from the left to fire a low strike that saw Lavin go full stretch to parry to safety.

Desborough then had a great opportunity to take the lead when Byrne was sent clear by Forbes throughball, but Brooks was alert and rushed of his line to make an excellent save with Rushton also making an excellent block on the line from Byrne’s second effort.

On 20 minutes Desborough should have took the lead but the defensive determination of the Tevie Boys came out on top as their goal lived a charm life.

It all started when Brooks again made an excellent save to deny Gormley, then Harcourt obstructed Byrne’s effort on the goal line and then Redding had an effort blocked before the gallant visitors defence cleared the danger.

The stop go effect of the referee was having a negative effect on the game, especially as there wasn’t any bad challenges being made.

But it was no surprise to see the first yellow card coming out on 31 minutes for the unlucky Gregory.

The visitors were then left to rue two missed opportunities.

The first saw Robinson and Harcourt combining to release Gregory who lifted his effort over the advancing home keeper only to see the effort to hit high up on the post and dropping to safety.

Two minutes later Gregory was through again but this time on the left and elected to place the ball past the advancing Lavin but again it went the wrong side of the post.

There was only one effort on goal before the controversial penatly.

The effort came when Redding fired a low drive after turning Danny Williams, but again Brooks saved well at the foot of his near post.

But on 70 minutes the game turned when Desborough scored from their controversial spot-kick, which left the Teversal bench fuming.

Teversal tried to play their way back into the game and took risks that left them open to the counter attack.

A long punt up the park from Mills sent Byrne clear to clinically finish as Teversal tried to push for the reply, but with it now 2-0 with 8 minutes left it was a tough task.

On 90 minutes there was no surprise when Byrne completed his hat trick when another long punt found the striker in an offside position but was allowed to go on and inflict a flattering 3-0 scoreline in a game that was much closer than this score-line suggest.

Teversal face a short journey up the M1 to face Dinnington Town for a 3:00pm kick off on Saturday.

Teversal; Ryan Brooks, Will Harcourt, Danny Williams, Colin Cockerill, Scott Rushton, Greg Tobin (Jacob Ashley 79), Sean Gregory, Lee Townsend (Callum Pursglove 68), Simon Groves (Danny Wilson 60), Mark Robinson, Daniel Pearson. Subs not used; Liam Wild.

REFEREE: David Brunton (Leicestershire).

ATTENDANCE – TBC

SCORERS – Desborough Town: Michael Byrne 70pen, 82, 90. Teversal: None.

MAN OF MATCH; Desborough Town: Ben Williams. Teversal: Mark Robinson.

YELLOW CARDS; Desborough Town: David Glass. Teversal: Sean Gregory, Colin Cockerill.

RED CARDS; Desborough Town: None. Teversal: William Harcourt.