The term “six pointer” is used many times in a season, but if you want a good example on what it really means, this game gave it. With Westella sat in the second relegation spot and Teversal only three places above but only four points ahead prior to the game with a win for the visitors putting them within a point of their host or a Teversal win would put them 7 points clear of the relegation place that neither side wants.

So the importance of the game wasn’t lost and the heavy pitch certainly made for game of caution which at times looked like it may become feisty, but was superbly Refereed by Josh Bramall to keep the game in order and allowed the game to be played.

The initial exchanges were cautious and it took until the 12th minute for any real goalmouth action when Chris Short delivered a corner into the Teversal penalty area that invited Alex Wood to produce a text book powerful downward header from 8 yards that saw Turton make an even more impressive save at the foot of the post. This appeared to ignite the Tevie Boys who up the ante to have the better of the possession after that scare.

Initially the home sides possession didn’t create an openings but a through ball sent McCann clear to lift his effort over the advancing Westella Keeper Exall who just managed to gain a enough of a touch on the ball to guide it wide of the target. That was soon followed by a speculative 35 yard effort from Dave Cockerill who was allowed the time and space to control the ball turn and fire an effort that dipped over Exall and marginally wide of the target.

On the stroke of half time the Teversal advances reaped the reward they deserved when again Dave Cockerill controlled a Camm free kick with his back to goal with his turn and shot blocked before the striker picked out Watson to finish with aplomb from 16 yards to add a bit of Christmas sparkle to a game lacking in the entertaining values.

The second half saw a more assured Teversal side controlling the game, Westella has you expected came out all guns blazing pinning the home side in their own half, but the Tevie rear-guard superbly marshalled by Mark Camm kept the visitors out of harm’s way and with Turton again in a dominating mood in his 18 yard box the visitors didn’t create an opportunity of note.

The defensive qualities became the foundation to allow the host to regain the better of the possession stakes around the hour mark and Cockerill corner picked out Sargent to powerfully head ggoalwards, but this time it was the visitors showing the credentials of having a player on the post as Dodson cleared the Tevie Skippers effort of the line.

Opportunities flowed from the home side with Mitchell latching onto a Bamford through ball to lift his effort past the advancing Exall, but the effort went agonisingly wide of the wrong side of the post for a goal kick. At the midpoint of the second period Cockerill was again the provider when he cleverly held the ball to pick out the supporting run of Bamford who at the second attempt fired a fierce effort that smashed against the bar to the visitor’s relief.

The game drifted in to a nervous end for the Tevie Boys who failed to put Westella to bed, but the defensive qualities continued to be a massive plus for the Tevie Boys to produce for the first time for a while back to back home clean sheets. But with the Visitors committing everyone forward and taking more risk as the clock ticked down Cockerill had one last chance in the dying minutes, but like his strike partner he guided his past the advancing Exall but also wide of the goal.

So Teversal now go into the two massive games over the Christmas period with Ollerton Town knowing that they are in touch with the top teams in that bottom third and with the opportunity to push on and climb into that middle third. For Westella they showed enough in this game that they can make true fight and get off the relegation trap door that they are currently occupying.

TEVERSAL; Josh Turton, Tom Moody (Macauley Short 87), James McCann, Gav Short (Jason Dawson 65), Brett Watson, Mark Camm, Khyle Sargent, Craig Mitchell, Kurt Bamford (Luke Morgan 88), David Cockerill, Sean Dickinson. Subs Not Used; Danny Fletcher, Josh Radford

WESTELLA & WILLERBY; Lewis Exall, Rob Dodson, Callum Stone, Andy Bagshaw, Sam McLaughlin, Zak Oakshott, Andy Jackson (Harry Earl 84), Mike Pecora, Alex Wood, Danny Walker (Ben Killingworth , Chris Short (Josh Walker 79). Subs Not Used; All Used.

REFEREE; Josh Bramall ATTENDANCE; 48

MAN OF MATCH; Teversal: Mark Camm. Westella & Willerby: Chris Short.

YELLOW CARDS; Teversal: Khyle Sargent, Craig Mitchell. Westella & Willerby: Andy Bagshaw, Chris Short.

RED CARDS; Teversal: None. Westella & Willerby: None.