Teversal strike late to deny Shirebrook in derby thriller

The previous week, Teversal had stunned second-placed AFC Mansfield, inflicting a rare defeat on the Toolstation Northern Counties East League, First Division title-chasers.

Seven days later, they denied fifth-placed Shirebrook a vital victory as substitute Lewis Weaver pounced in the dying seconds to force a 2-2 draw.

The goal capped an excellent, full-blooded encounter on a heavy pitch that had all the thrills and spills to delight a crowd of 160.

Shirebrook arrived full of confidence after a run of results that had lifted them to the fringes of the title race. And after their ‘keeper James Dean had made a terrific save to deny Brad Cox, they opened the scoring with a wonderful goal in the 19th minute. Striker Jake Currie pinched the ball from home midfielder Khyle Sargent, looked up to see goalkeeper Dale Sheppard off his line and chipped him from 30 yards.

Teversal refused to be fazed and applied plenty of pressure. Indeed Dean, who was the visitors’ best player on the day, was the busier of the two ‘keepers. And when he spilled a low cross by Sargent, Shirebrook were fortunate that efforts from both Cox and Richard Guest were blocked by defenders. Dean then got the slightest of touches on a speculative effort by Sargent that flew across goal and wide.

The home team finally found their deserved equaliser seven minutes into the second half after a period of sustained pressure that resulted in a corner, delivered to the far post by Paul Staniforth. Luke Fisher headed the ball back into the danger zone where, after a scramble and numerous blocks, Kyle Hempshall, who had only just gone on as a substitute, calmly guided a shot home from 18 yards.

Right-back Hempshall had clearly dusted down his attacking boots because, moments later, he went close again, this time with a fiercely struck, dipping effort that Dean saved superbly, tipping over the bar.

Shirebrook responded well, though, and restored their lead in the 77th minute with another goal from Currie against his former club. Receiving a pass from Matty Ord, his quality first touch bought him the time to produce a clinical finish from the edge of the box.

The visitors could have been forgiven for thinking that the points were in the bag, especially when Dean pulled off another tremendous save, guiding a 20-yarder from Weaver over the bar,

However, Teversal’s pride and never-say-die spirit ensured the match had another twist. With the 90 minutes already up, Hempshall produced an inch-perfect ball behind the visitors’ defence and as Dean raced off his line, Weaver slid in to place home a much-merited equaliser.

The result left the hosts in 12th place, but full of confidence ahead of a trip to lowly Worsbrough Bridge Athletic this Saturday.

Shirebrook remain unbeaten away from home in the league this term and stay in the top five, six points behind AFC Mansfield but 11 behind leaders Hemsworth Miners Welfare. They travel to Westella VIP this weekend.

LINE-UP -- TEVERSAL: Sheppard/ Armstrong (Hempshall 45), Staniforth, Fisher, Gregory, Watson (Moody 86), Atkins (Weaver 70), Sargent, Cox, Guest, Dickinson (man-of-match). SUBS NOT USED: Burke, Tittley.

SHIREBROOK: Dean/ Shepherd, Griffin (Hill W. 45), Fox, Cardwell (Hill S. 45), Roebuck, Greenfield, Hargreaves, Johnson, Currie, Ord (Gibson 83). SUBS NOT USED: Outram, Rowley.