Emley performance deserves more

With a third consecutive defeat for AFC Emley you could be forgiven for thinking this result showed Emley's hopes for the season may be beginning to fade.

However, the performance - especially when compared to Saturday's FA Vase disappointment - gave great hope to the Emley faithful and keep them warm on a frosty Tuesday night.

Antony Brown's debut goal, a confident performance between the sticks by eventual Man of the Match Adam Lawlor, Sam Jerome solid at the back and and a hard working Steven Kenworthy coming through another full 90 minutes were just some of the highlights from an Emley perspective.

Arguably Emley were undone by some unlucky refereeing calls. The equaliser came when a free kick was awarded against the home side instead of in their favour. With their confidence restored Retford showed their higher league class and nudged ahead. There were huge appeals from Emley for a penalty that could have sent the tie into extra time, but all were waved away.

Moments later, the efforts rained in hitting post, keeper and defenders before being cleared by a relieved Retford.

In the end, it was a cruel defeat against one of the early pacesetters in the league above but it bodes well if Darren Hepworth's team can play so positively for a few months to come... and maybe take those early chances to put games out of sight.