Glos Northern Senior Div Two

Avonvale Utd 2 Abbeymead Rovers 1

AVONVALE were made to work harder for the points than they might have expected against lowly Abbeymead Rovers.

Playing a high pressing game from the start and forcing the visitors into frequent errors, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead.

The breakthrough came when Mike Apperley headed home a George Robinson corner after 15 minutes and with Abbeymead struggling to gain any sort of foothold in midfield the Vale could have put the result beyond doubt before half-time.

However, Jake Harrison was unable to convert a good opportunity and the usually reliable Tom Blackah saw his penalty well saved.

A George Robinson goal early in the second half seemed as if it would lead to a convincing victory but a combination of tiring Vale legs on a heavy pitch, and a growing belief from the visitors that they could still take something from the game, saw the home side come under increasing pressure in the closing stages.

The pressure only increased when a loss of concentration from captain Mark Lester allowed his opponent to head home and led to a nervy final five minutes.