Bottesford Town vs AFC Emley Play-off final

AFC Emley suffered penalty heartbreak as Bottesford Town gained promotion to the NCEL Premiership after the teams played out a pulsating 1-1 draw.
The Pewits has two chances to win the shootout through top scorer Ashley Flynn and Iwan Heeley but the pressure told as both skied over.
Craig Bridge put the hosts ahead in sudden death before Sam Jeromee’s penultimate penalty was saved by Town keeper Leigh Herrick.
This came after Emley were seconds away from promotion heading into the end of normal time.
However, Tom Brennen, who was a brick wall all day, clipped Wayne Graves in the box enough for him to go down softly which the referee fell for.
Terry Barwick slotted the ball away calmly for the hosts to take the game into extra time, cancelling out captain Micheal Tunnacliffe’s opener for Emley.
On reflection it was a cruel way to lose a game in which Emley had the better of.
No one would have guessed how dramatic the game would turn out from the first half showing.
Both teams were nervous from the off and chances came as a rarity, but the tackles were flying in as everything was on the line.
Bottesford's only real chanced of the game came when Graves had a header bounce back off the post and the rebound was skied over.
After the let off Emley sparked into life, with Kieran Ryan linking up nicely with Flynn who forced a fine save from Herrick.
The visitors were handling the constant bombardment of long balls coming their way with Sam Jerome and Brennen dominant in the air.
After the break Emley pressed higher and created some good chances.
They firmly put the pressure on their hosts and Flynn should have had a penalty after being pushed over in the box, however the referee didn’t agree.
Ryan then set up Ruben Jerome shortly after, who forced another good save from Herrick.
Emley didn’t have to wait much longer as a Flynn free-kick was headed back across goal by Sam Jerome to a diving Tunnacliffe who headed the ball home.
Flynn could have made it two, but his shot blazed over after good work from Ryan down the right hand side.
Bottesford failed to put much pressure upon the Emley goal, with Paul Day, in for the injured Adam Lawlor, a spectator for most parts.
However Barwick’s penalty set up a nervy extra-time period, in which both teams were desperate not to give anything away.
Emley created the best chance and could have nicked the winner when substitute Dominic Noteman’s cross found Sam Jerome but he fired over.
It was a classic case of right place, but wrong man for the finish.
Unfortunately, in the end, it wasn’t enough for a spirited Emley side, who were backed by many fans making the long trip to Scunthorpe.
Congratulations to Bottesford for their achievements, however for Emley the wait for promotion goes on for another year.
However it has been the Pewit's best ever season in the division and everyone at the club will be full of confidence going into next season knowing promotion is a definite possibility.