Mark Greaves and his Hayden Lobley (left) watched their Eccleshill United side draw 1-1 with Teversal
Eccleshill United had enough chances to win their 1-1 draw with Teversal last night.
Liam Charles gave them the platform to build from in the first half, but top goalkeeping from Teversal’s Dale Sheppard restricted Eccleshill to one goal.
Mark Greaves’ side were then made to pay as captain Paul Staniforth earned his side a point midway through the second half.
Eccleshill, chasing their first Toolstation NCEL Division One win in three matches, made a positive start and went in front early on.
Ben Hardy’s long ball eluded the Teversal defence and even their otherwise goalkeeper Sheppard. Their mishaps presented an open goal for Charles and the midfielder duly obliged by placing the ball into the empty net.
Teversal had their moments – including James McCann’s close range effort which was only kept out by a fine block.
Chances flowed at both ends, but mostly at Teversal’s as Sheppard made save after save. Eccleshill’s finishing could have been a lot better as there were numerous occasions when a final pass would have presented a simple tap-in.
Ultimately, all the hallmarks of a game where two points were to be dropped were there and when Staniforth fired the ball through a crowd of bodies, the scores were level.
Eccleshill had several further chances to grab all three points late-on, but Sheppard was equal to each one.
Right at the death, Luke Harrop was inches away from scoring the winner after hitting the post from close range.
Eccleshill United: Stead, Hardy, Bartle, Cooper (captain), Springer, Slater, Peltier, Charles, Turner, Harrop, Kitson. Subs unused: Andre, Catley, Hammond, Beck.
Teversal: Sheppard, Coupe, Staniforth, Cox, Hempstall, Charlesworth, Moody (Bakke 37), Atkins, Short, Radford (Langley 70), McCann. Subs unused: M Short, Sipson.
Referee: Justin Carpenter
Ref Rating: 8/10 (good display overall from a new official to the NCEL)
Attendance: TBC
Man of the match: Dale Sheppard (Teversal)