Teversal back in action as Cockerill strikes early

But the Tevie Boys did have to survive a missed penalty by the home side in the second half.

Credit must go to the groundsman, who did a superb job to get the pitch playable, and it was in a magnificent state after the recent heavy rain.

It was a pity he couldn’t have done anything about the wind that was blowing from one end of the ground to the other and was obviously going to make for a game of two halves.

With the blustery conditions behind them the Tevie Boys took control of the game from the off and were immediately rewarded when they took the lead after four minutes when Jay Ashley worked a free kick with Dave Cockerill with the Teversal skipper firing a 40 yard wind-assisted effort that Guilliatt in the home goal wasn’t expecting and was caught grasping thin air as the ball rocketed into the back of the net.

The visitors controlled possession but failed to turn that into a more decisive lead and, as half-time approached, you started to question if the slender lead would be enough to take into the break under such blustery condition.

Credit must go to the hosts, who have the leakiest defence in the division, but defended superbly to keep the score down at the break with Teversal really not making the most of the opportunities they created.

The second half saw Appleby draw on the confidence that their excellent first period gave them, but it was the visitors who produced the first opening of note when a neat passing move saw Wilson play Burrell into a goalscoring position.

But the wide man sent his effort high and wide of the mark as he attempted to place the ball into the top corner past the stranded Guilliatt.

Appleby then failed to take advantage of what can only be described as a couple of strange decisions from the assistant referee.

Initially he awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box when he judged that the Tevie keeper Ryan Brooks had handled outside of the penalty, but it appeared that the custodian had stepped back into the area after shepherding the ball back as the Appleby striker chased an overhit through ball.

The free kick was a shock for all as even the Appleby players didn’t appeal for it and the striker was only 10 yards away from it. The free kick came to nothing with Girling’s effort clipping the wall before forcing Brooks into a routine save.

The hosts then went close when Turgoose played a ball to Rodgers to flick on into the path of Nicholls who was denied by an alert Brooks, but had the effort gone in it would have been ruled out for offside.

What then followed was the second strange decision from the assistant referee, when Tait’s long ball saw a straight race between Schofield and Rodgers to get to the ball and, with the Tevie defender getting in front of Rodgers and looking to clear the danger, both players tangled just as they entered the penalty area. The referee waved play on but the assistant wielded his flag before placing it across his chest.

The referee consulted before appearing to look reluctant to point to the penalty spot to Appleby’s delight.

However, justice was to prevail has Turgoose placed the 69th minute gift wide of the target.

With 15 minutes left, Appleby produced the last couple of notable efforts, when Rodgers’ overhead effort hit the angle of bar and post with Yamah’s effort from the rebound being blocked before it was cleared to safety.

Then sub Hood, who had looked a threat after being introduced fired a fierce strike from 18 yards that saw Brooks go full length to make an excellent save and ensured he and his team mates left with all three points.

For Teversal, they will be grateful of the three points and know they will have to improve the performances if they want to achieve their goals for the season.

Teversal hope to entertain Selby Town tomorrow (Tuesday) with a 7.45pm kick-off, then on Saturday they travel to Grimsby to face Grimsby Borough with a 3pm kick-off.

Both games are in the Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One.

APPLEBY FRODINGHAM: Michael Guilliatt, Paul Tait, Ryan Short, Ben Shipman, Richard Girling, Joshua Reid, Jerry Yamah (Thomas Raithby 80), Joshua Turgoose, Christopher Rodgers, Clarke Brown (Andrew Hood 63), Jonathan Nicholls. Subs not used: David Smith, Matthew Holtby.

TEVERSAL: Ryan Brooks, Brad Cox, Ricky Starbuck, Greg Tobin, Jacob Ashley, Jordan Schofield, Triston Burrell (Mark Robinson 71), Sean Dickinson, Oli Wood (Craig Newton 84), Dave Cockerill, Danny Wilson. Subs not used: Mark Walker, Danny Barke, Joseph Darby.

REFEREE: Colin Unwin of West Yorkshire. ATTENDANCE: 30.

TEVERSAL MAN OF MATCH: Jordan Schofield.