Emley edge cup thriller on penalties

Ruben Jerome’s first goal after his return to the club sent the game into extra time, which also saw two goals from Jordan Townend, the second being an incredible lob in the final minute.

The NCEL League Cup second round tie started off quite tentatively, with neither side having any chances of note in the opening fifteen minutes. Kieran Ryan had a couple of efforts for Emley, taking the ball around the goalkeeper but making the angle too tight, only finding the side netting.

The away side, who are in the division above Emley, were only just surviving by the skin of their teeth thanks to two remarkable goal-line clearances. Tom Brook headed a Ryan shot off the line after Ashley Flynn’s initial effort was saved by Christopher Barrow, and Brook Newton somehow got back to divert Jordan Coduri’s goal-bound effort onto the post and away.

The start of the second half soon saw the game’s opening goal, as Kevy Tarangadzo’s cross to the back post found Anthony Hilton in acres of space, and he drew Adam Lawlor out of his goal before calmly finding Newton who tucked the ball home to give Liversedge the lead.

They nearly made it two shortly after, as Vaughan Redford dispossessed Tom Brennan and bared down on goal, but couldn’t take the ball past Lawlor. At the other end, Flynn had a curling effort well saved by Barrow in the Liversedge goal.

Substitute Sam Scrivens came incredibly close to an equalizer, smashing the bar following a one-two with Flynn and a mazy run that saw him come inside, faking to shoot twice to create some space, before rifling the ball against the upright.

Emley, who beat Hemsworth Miners Welfare in the first round, did manage an equalizer, through another substitute. Ruben Jerome lobbed Barrow with three minutes of normal time to go after a knock down by Flynn, before Jerome kept his composure to force extra time.

The home side then took the lead for the first time in the game, as Townend swung in a free kick from the left hand side that avoided everyone, finding the bottom corner of the net to give Emley a 2-1 lead.

It was a lead that was short lasting, as Liversedge striker Redford, who had missed a sitter just moments before, latched on to a ball and ran towards goal before slotting it past Lawlor to make it 2-a-piece at half time in extra time.

The game then saw Liversedge take the lead again with only two minutes remaining, as Lawlor dropped the ball from a throw in, allowing Redford to instinctively pounce and score his second goal of the game.

It looked like being a winning one, but Townend provided yet another twist as his stunning chip made it 3-3. The ball was thrown to Sam Jerome who was down the right wing, and he knocked it back to Townend who had a bit of space, and saw the keeper off his line and executed a wonderful lob to send the game into penalties.

Liversedge captain Tom Jackson was first up, but his effort was saved by Lawlor, down to the keeper’s left. The next five penalties were all scored, meaning the shootout stood at 3-2 to Emley, with both teams having taken three penalties a-piece.

Cody Cormack then stepped up, but felt the same pain as his captain did, with Lawlor guessing correctly and pulling off another good save down to his right.

Ash Flynn had the chance to win it, but his tame effort was easily saved by Barrow. But it was Lawlor who would win the shootout for Emley, saving Liversedge substitute Brandon Kane’s effort down to his right and ensuring Emley’s progress into round three of the NCEL League Cup.