Teversal FC

 A midweek trip to Nottinghamshire and the small village of Teversal. It was noticeable on the way there, the lack of road signage for Teversal makes it quite difficult to find however I eventually succeeded, the last couple of miles causing the conundrum. Food was taken on the journey down at Woodhall services, which alongside the usual fare of KFC and Burger King, also boasts a Waitrose, where I got a tasty and nutritious meal deal.

The ground is up a narrow residential street then at the top it expands into a hire car park, mainly for Teversal Visitor Centre and the various trails, into the woods, but also being really handy for the football ground which is right next door. Had I visited on a Saturday I would have taken a walk along one of the trails, it was popular with walkers, dogs and horses. The ground was in desperate need of a lick of paint and a tidy up, it was a real mish mash of random items strewn about all over the place, there was even a hutch containing rabbits and guinea pigs, the two Tesco trolley shelters are still standing behind the goal, the stand has had new seat frames put in, but alas the seats haven't been attached yet, they were lined up waiting to be put on so somebody is trying to improve the place. I was glad to have eaten as upon entering the small bar I couldn't get near enough to the kitchen to see what was on offer, there was no visible menu either so I left empty handed, unusual for me in any football ground. Admission was advertised at £5 and £3 but upon reaching the turnstiles, concessions were only £2.50. The facilities brought back memories of nearby Ollerton FC, very much similar in that they are basic and in need of investment. 

The game kicked off and was very end to end, with Dinnington direct on the break and at set pieces and Teversal forcing the keeper into some good saves through their meat intricate passing game. Dinnington took the lead in the 37th minutes from a corner, a soft header trickling in. On the stroke of half time a cross from the right was met by a powerful header and Dinnington were two to the good and coasting.

Second  half and Teversal came out with renewed purpose, ten minutes in they got a goal back after they bundled home from a corner after a good spell of pressure. Then in the 65th minute a deflected shot from right hand side of edge of the penalty area wrong footed the keeper and we were all square, game on once more. Dinnington came good again and five minutes later, an excellent passing move and cross down the right hand side culminated in an easy finish from the six yard box, much to the delight of the two Dinnington fans under the trolley shelter behind the goal. However it was 3.3 with ten minutes left when a free kick from the right was swung in and not dealt with, it seemed to be attempted to clear but hit somebody and went in, possibly for an own goal. This was not the end though, next up the linesman gave a very tight offside decision, only for the Dinnington number 9 to then ask me if I thought it was the correct decision, what authority do I have! A real mad game and mad surroundings wasn't done yet and after kicking an excellent chance over, Teversal then took the lead with 3 minutes left, a long ball was hooked forward, the keeper came out but the attacker beat him to it and poked home into an empty net. Then in added time, some more abysmal defending as a cross in from the left caught the keeper and his defender ball watching and another soft finish to give the home side a bizarre and unexpected 5.3 victory in front of an attendance of 65, Teversal having always struggled for crowds dating back to their north east counties league days.