TEVERSAL GO TOP WITH WIN AT HOLBROOK

HOLBROOK SPORTS 0 TEVERSAL 1
EMCL @ SHAW LANE
3 NOVEMBER 2017 --- 7.45PM

FRIDAY FOOTY AT HOLBROOK SPORTS

A solitary goal from Dave Cockerill was enough to send Teversal to the top of the East Midlands Counties League replacing hosts Holbrook Sports who could not break down the resolute visitors who saw the final 28 minutes out with just ten men.
Friday night footy well why not so the blog set off from base for the short trip to Kilburn which would see the phone torch light come into play for the twenty minute walk up the dark country lane that would finally bring me into the village of Holbrook at around 7.15pm.  Holbrook I believe was covered on the blog a few years ago but its a lovely village probably best admired in the daytime certainly public transport is a problem after 7pm and tonight I would be very grateful to avoid a taxi back to Ripley to Luke, Heanor Town TV's top man for a lift, thank you!
The ground at Shaw Lane is situated behind the Miners Welfare and associated bowling green the ground has a slope from the far goal back towards the welfare.  With the changing rooms to the rear of the welfare the walkway to the pitch is long but the club hope to build some new ones inside the boundary of the ground.  The snack bar is small and welcoming and used twice tonight after gaining admission and a steady little programme a meander around found little had changed but for some excellent painting of the perimeter fencing and smartening up behind the top goal.  The right hand side features two dug outs and the official viewing area ends at the, the cover here is to the left hand side touchline with a cycle stand converted with temporary seats and straddling the half way line a stand with rear terracing and seats to the front with a row and half of seats in place.  Overall a smart little set up that meets the needs of the club at this step level.

SPORTS MANAGER MARK WILSON OVERSEES HOLBROOK THROUGH THE NEARLY SQUARE WINDOW

In the close season Holbrook engaged Mark Wilson as manager and the success is following for this jack in a box manager who is a winner and clearly wants winners in his team although tonight they failed to break down a stubborn Teversal  his side will not be far off at the end of the season.  Teversal were battling away at the top of the table too following their transfer from the NCEFL in the close season with Dave Cockerill still showing off his sweet left foot a player consistent ability on my viewing of Teversal.
The game started apace for Sports with the visiting keeper Turton making two excellent saves to deny the Brookies.  With Teversal in this game for a big defend and the chance on the break was not taken although Bacon got a shot in that fell wide.  By half time Holbrook must have been a little bemused that their possession had not resulted in a goal but we arrived at the interval goal less.

THROUGH THE ENTRANCE AND INTO THE CAFE FOR A WARM DRINK

The half time period saw the chance to greet the blogs hairdresser who lives by the ground and is with the club while operating his businesses in two nearby town as we watched the second half by the goals I was relieved to have shampooed the wig that afternoon.
The ever reliable Cockerill nipped in on a intercepted Sports pass rounded Steve Smith in the home goal and from the tightest of angles slotted in an excellent finish past two tracking back defenders, 52 minutes.  Ten minutes later the task got harder when Radford was sent off for the visitors for his second bookable offence within a few minutes and Holbrook sensed their chance.  However the double bank of defenders that Teversal now secured in place managed to thwart and deny most of what Holbrook could throw at them and it was to prove one of those games for the leaders who were replaced at the top by Teversal thanks to a clinical finish.
As ever thankful to avoid the goal less game and made a note to get along to Holbrook for a day time game and take a look at this Holbrook team who had one of those games in football tonight but who will mount a very strong challenge I'm sure under manager Wilson.